James E. Lawson or Ted was born in 1935 in the small mining town of Hetton-le-Hole, Durham, England and grew up during World War II.

Although there was a war going on, Ted played football with some neighborhood boys when a German fighter plane flew over their heads with black smoke pouring from the engine. The pilot was trying to land his Messerschmitt fighter plane in the field. Ted ran as fast as his seven year old legs could carry him and was first on the scene. When Ted reached the plane, a German soldier armed with a pistol was standing on the left wing. Ted being a curious boy tried to climb into the cockpit, but the soldier was yelling "nein, nein" and moving his hands in a shooing motion. Ted, determined to get into the plane, ran around the opposite side, jumped up on the wing and crawled into the cockpit to inspect. It wasn't until he heard police sirens that he jumped out of the plane and ran off. He was more afraid of the police than the armed German soldier.


At the age of 15, Ted went to work in the coal mines with his father and grandfather earning an apprenticeship. After seven years, he entered the British Merchant Marines traveling from England to France, Italy, the Mediterranean, and around the Cape of Good Hope, Africa.


After breaking his leg on the ship MacIndoe, Ted left the Merchant Marines and moved to London where he met his future wife Carole. A ninth month courtship lead to marriage and a move to America. Ted got a job in Detroit, Michigan with General Motors as a millwright fixing large engines and machines.


Ted and Carole moved to Farmington Hills, Michigan and bought a three bedroom, one and a half bathroom home on Albion street. They had three children, Kimberley, Sharon, and Paul respectively. Ted worked at GM until the Livonia plant closed in 1993. In 1994, Ted began a job at Aetna as a supervisor of the maintenance crew. He retired in 2000. Ted spent his retirement gardening, taking photographs, and tinkering with projects around the house.


He leaves behind a wife, three children, five grandchildren, sister, nephew, two brothers-in-law, two sons-in-law, and his dog Winston.

Ted's family will receive friends for visitation on Sunday, February 9th, from 2-9 p.m. at the funeral home.

A funeral service will be held on Monday 11 a.m. at Thayer-Rock Funeral Home in Downtown Farmington. Rev. William Roberts, Pastor of St. Anne's Episcopal Church, Walled Lake will officiate.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 25200 Telegraph Rd., Ste. 100, Southfield, MI 48033-7443.