Bertha May 'Bert' Lawson 75

Bertha May "Bert" Lawson 75, passed away in Sandpoint, Idaho, on June 25, 2007.Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 29, 2007, in Coffelt's Funeral Chapel. Dale Coffelt will officiate with interment in the Hope City Cemetery.Bert was born in Hope, Idaho, on Dec. 5, 1931, the daughter of Claude and Anna (Rhodes) Hatfield. She grew up, and attended schools, in Hope, Idaho.On May 22, 1949, she married William E. Lawson in Eugene, Ore. She lived in Eugene, Ore., and Costa Mesa, Calif., returning to the Sandpoint area in 1964. She worked in the food service industry and over the years managed restaurants for the Edgewater, the Pend Oreille Lodge, Hootowl Hannahs, the Lighthouse restaurant, and the Elk's Lodge. In 1980, she established Bert's Place in Ponderay which she operated until her retirement in 1999.Bert was a 30-year member of the Sandpoint Eagles Auxiliary, Aerie No. 589. She enjoyed painting, fishing, gardening, and canning. Her love was taking care of her family and her friends.She is survived by four sons, Donald E. (and Bobbi) Walline of Junction City, Ore., Steve (and Marilyn) Lawson of Phoenix, Ariz., Johnnie (and Sue) Lawson of Kootenai, Idaho, and Stuart (and Billie) Lawson of Sandpoint; two daughters, Debra (and Rocky) Swan of Laclede, Idaho, and Gypsy (and Scott) Ackerman of Sheridan, Ore.; 14 granddaughters and seven grandsons; 25 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Terry Hatfield of Eugene and Donald Hatfield of Coos Bay, Ore.; a sister, Louise Tucker of Sandpoint; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bill Lawson; sisters, Opal, Lillie and Sherion; a brother, Frank; a son-in-law, Jeff Chamberlain; and a daughter-in-law, Donna "Allen" Lawson.Family and friends are invited to view Bert's obituary and sign her online guest book at www.coffeltfuneral.com.Funeral arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.