English Funeral Chapels & Crematory - Memorial & Guest Registry

Father George Dawson

Visitation will be held from noon until 5 p.m. Friday, June 1, 2007, at English Funeral Chapel, Coeur d'Alene. A Rosary 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.

Father George Dawson, 84, 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.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Holy Family Catholic School, 3005 Kathleen Ave., Coeur d'Alene, 83815 or St. Clements Health Center, 300 Ligouri Drive, Ligouri, MO 63057.

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Name: Joe and JoAnn Dawson
City: Spokane Valley
State: WA
Date: 05-30-07

We continue to love you and pray for you George.
Joe and JoAnn

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Name: Brother Dan Hall, CSSR
City: Glenview
State: IL
Country: USA
Email: brodanielhall@aol.com
Date: May 30, 2007

Father George will greatly be missed by all of us who had the priviledge to live and work with him.

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Name: Kerri Wilfong
City: Coeur d'Alene
State: ID
Date: 5/31/07

As a great niece of Uncle George, fondest memories include . . . walks with him and my cousins down to Tubbs Hill for a swim, Uncle George holding Mass outside at the old cabin on the (spokane) river, and the many weddings & baptisms he conducted in our family. Love, Kerri

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Name: Jim Conrow
City: Coeur d' Alene
State: Idaho
Country: USA
Date: June 1, 2007

Father George was a great insperation as a god father of his extended family. May he rest in peace, Jim and Pat Conrow and Kathy Perez

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Name: Bill Kapaun
City: Albany
State: OR
Email: bkapaun@hotmail.com
Date: 6/1/07

I'd like to extend my condolences to the extended Dawson family.
I didn't know Father George well, due to the difference in our ages. Our families did however, since we only lived a 1/2 block from each other.
The neighborhood reunion in heaven keeps growing!
May they all have peace.

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Name: Fr. Lee Perry
City: Olympia
State: WA
Date: June 1, 2007

We at St. George Byzantine Catholic Church are saddened to hear of Fr. George's falling asleep in the Lord. We enjoyed having him with us when he joined us for his brother Bill's funeral. Fr. George joins him now in eternal light, happiness, and peace. Be assured of our continued prayers for him. We will also offer a special Divine Liturgy for him in the next few weeks.

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Name: Jay and Mary Beth Broderick
City: Lake Oswego
State: Oregon
Country: USA
Email: j.broderick@earthlink.net
Date: June 4, 2007

I remember going to George's first Mass in Coeur d'Alene. I had never known a "new priest" before. I appreciated that he was pleasant and friendly to a kid. He probably said more than 20,000 Masses during his life. The last time I talked to George was at the 2000 Academy reunion. He was cheerful, as usual.
He will remain in our prayers, as will all of the Dawsons.
Jay and Mary Beth Broderick

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Name: Mary Dawson
City: Spokane
State: Washington
Date: 06 12 07

Our family has been so blessed. George was a wonderful priest and brother. His deep faith, along with his kind and positive attitude, was, and is, an inspiration to us all. He will always live in our hearts. His sister, Mary

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Name: Fr. D. Carl Heinemeyer
City: Hyuntington Beach - Whittier
State: CA
Country: USA
Email: carl.heinemeyer@verizon.net
Date: June 2, 2007

Fr. George, good friend, rest now in that place of joy, happiness, light and peace - our Father's house. "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." Memory eternal.