Father George W. Dawson, C.Ss.R., 83
Father George Dawson, 83, went to be with Our Lord Saturday, May 26, 2007, while in Ligouri, Mo.

Father George was born in Coeur d'Alene to Earl and Gertrude (Groves) Dawson Sept. 29, 1923. He was the oldest of nine siblings. George attended Immaculate Heart Academy in Coeur d'Alene. After completing the eighth grade, George left Coeur d'Alene for the Redemptorist seminary in Oakland, Calif. He completed his religious studies in Oconomowoc, Wis. And was ordained a priest in 1950. Father George celebrated his first mass at St. Thomas Church in Coeur d'Alene after his ordination. In 2000, Father George celebrated his golden jubilee as a priest also at St. Thomas here in Coeur d'Alene.

During his almost 57 years of religious service, Father George was stationed at Redemptorist parishes in Portland, Seattle, Great Falls, Coeur d'Alene, Whittier, Calif., and was the founding pastor of the parish church in Fresno, Calif. George also worked for many years in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico where he devoted himself to the poor, tending to their spiritual and physical needs. Father George always considered this special work and loved it and the people he served. He continued his work with the Spanish speaking in Wittier where he conducted masses in Spanish and would visit the homes of his Mexican parishioners especially working with those less fortunate. Father George was equally comfortable, loving and gracious in the finest dining room or in that of a dirt floor hut in Mexico. As a priest and pastor, Father George greeted thousands of parishioners on the steps of the churches he served amassing countless friends.

George will always be remembered as a humble, holy man devoted to Christ and His Church. His humility and piety drew many to him. Father George never cared to be a leader, but preferred to be a simple worker in his service to God and the Church. Through his example, Father George led many others to the Redemptorist seminary to include three brothers and a nephew. Some of those he inspired were later ordained.

Father George is survived by his sisters, Catherine Ann (Tom) Jacobson, Coeur d'alene, Mary Dawson, Spokane, Edna Dawson, Coeur d'Alene; brothers, Earl Jr. (Adaline) Dawson, Canby, Ore., Jim Dawson, Spokane, Bob (Margret) Dawson, Asheville, N.C., and Joe (JoAnn) Dawson, Spokane. George is also survived by nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces -- too many to count. Though Father George spent many long visits with his family, who loved him dearly, he always seemed anxious to return to the work of the church and to his Redemptorist brothers whom he found great solace in and whom he considered his second family.

Father George now joins his mother, Gertrude, who passed away in 1969, and his father Earl, who passed away in 1972. Father George was also preceded in death by his brother, Bill in 2005.

Visitation will be held from noon until 5 p.m. Friday, June 1, 2007, at English Funeral Chapel, Coeur d'Alene. A Rosery will be held at 7 p.m. Friday June 1, 2007, at St. Thomas Catholic Church, 919 Indiana Ave., Coeur d'Alene. A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 2, 2007, at St. Thomas. A private burial will be held at a later date at St. Thomas Cemetery.

If you would like to make a donation in Fr. Dawson's memory, to help support the work of the Redemptorists, please make your check payable to Redemptorists/Denver Province and mail it to:

Redemptorists/Denver Province
Development Office
1230 South Parker Road
Denver, CO 80231

Or just click on the blue “Donate Now” button on the right side of this page.

Please sign George's guest registry and view his online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.

(Obituary from http://www.cdapress.com/articles/2007/05/31/obituaries/obit03.txt )