Shirley Jean (Mast) Lawson

Shirley Jean Lawson, age 70, of Kokomo, passed away peacefully following a hard-fought battle with cancer at 8:10 p.m. on Monday, January 5, 2026, at Copper Trace in Westfield. She was born on March 20, 1955, to the late Wayne R. and Wanita S. (Roth) Mast. On June 15, 2006, in Brown County, Indiana, Shirley married James Alan Lawson, who survives.

Shirley was a 1973 graduate of Haworth High School and earned her associate degree from Ivy Tech. She dedicated many years of service to her community, working as an office manager at Ivy Tech for 10 years, working with Emergency Radio Services (ERS) for 20 years, and later retiring from Community Howard Regional Health after 15 years. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Greentown Chapter. Shirley was a true social butterfly who never met a stranger. She enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, watching crime shows, and staying busy. She loved people and giving back through volunteering with the women’s shelter, We Care, and the Kokomo High School Band concessions.

Along with her husband, Alan, Shirley is survived by her daughters, Samantha (Godwin) King and Danielle (Ricky) Swims; her grandchildren, Ayden King, Arlonzo King Anderson, Isiah Howard, Ricky Swims Jr., Emmeline Swims, Joshua Jones, Joseph Aaron, Joshua Aaron, and Jacob Aaron; as well as several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Linda Biddle.

A funeral service celebrating Shirley’s life will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Shirley & Stout Funeral Home & Crematory, 1315 West Lincoln Road, Kokomo, with Pastor Devon Cole officiating. Burial will take place in Mast-Hensler Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family from 12:00 p.m. until the time of service on Saturday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Shirley’s memory to Open Arms Women’s Shelter. Checks may be made payable to the Kokomo Rescue Mission, with “Open Arms” noted in the memo line. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.shirleyandstout.com.

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