Birth date: Feb 6, 1933 Death date: Jan 5, 2026
James Patrick Lawlor Jr., 92 years of Columbia, IL, passed away on January 5, 2026 at Mercy Hospital South, St. Louis, MO. He was born February 6, 1933, in East St. Louis, IL, son of the late James Patrick and Gertrude, nee Droit, Read Obituary
Jim Lawlor was my uncle. He married my dad's little sister. Both of them have been good to me for decades.
52 years ago I was in a very, very bad car accident. When I had recuperated for a few weeks, I came to St. Louis to stay with Anna and Jim. (Uncle Jim came to the bus station to pick me up.) It was a difficult time for me.
I could not put any weight on my right ankle. I did not know if I would be able to walk again without pain.
(Anna would put a garbage bag around my cast each day so that I could take a shower without getting the cast wet. God bless her.)
One day Jim decided that I needed to get a car and drive it back to Kansas.
He took me car shopping--at least I thought at age 23 that that is what we were doing. I got into the driver's seat of a Gran Torino to test it out; Jim sat in the passenger's seat. I drove the car in a large parking lot in Columbia unaware of what was happening. Finally Jim said; "I don't think this is the car for you."
Years later he told me that he had no intention of me buying a car that day. He just wanted me to get behind the wheel of a car so that I would not be afraid when I could start driving again.
It worked. I have never been afraid to drive--thanks to the insight and goodness of my Uncle Jim. May God rest his dear soul.
Barbara Sonnenmoser
So sorry for your loss...your Dad always had a smile when I saw him. Please accept my deepest condolences....
Sincerely, Sandy Roessler (Blondie)
I met Jim about 5 years ago when Anna moved into Reflections at Garden Place. Covid hit... but through it all, the love that they had for each other was so apparent. He stood outside her window and they talked, blew kisses and talked. On their anniversary we made them a dinner for two. You would have thought it was their first date. Death is never easy but knowing they are together again brings comfort. I was blessed to have known both of them. Prayers of peace to their amazing family. Losing someone like Jim has to be a hurt like no other.
