Verna Lawson of Granite Falls hits the century mark

BY CHUCK TUCK | JOURNAL REPORTER Verna Lawson, born Verna May Parfit on January 26, 1907, turned 100 on a cold but sunny day in Granite Falls.

Lawson didn’t mind sharing the spotlight with fellow centurion Tance Davison who recently turned 100 in December.

“She’s 48 days older than I am,” Lawson said.

Lawson was born in Sunnyside, WA, in the Yakima Valley, shortly after its incorporation in 1902. She lived there with her family until she was 18 when they moved to Seattle, where she graduated with honers from Broadway High School. “When I had to come over to Seattle, and graduated from Broadway High School, we had 495 in our senior class; in Sunnyside we only had 375 from 9th through 12th grade,” Lawson said.

Grandson Brian Mcintosh called her “spry,” and full of youth.
“I feel like I’m 30 or 35,” Lawson said with a smile.

Lawson was married, working and raising her two daughters, Marilyn and Jean, while going to school.

In 1948 she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Seattle Pacific College which later became Seattle Pacific University.
With a love for the youth, Lawson quickly began teaching grade school children. She soon moved to Woodrow Wilson Junior High where she taught home economics for 23 years.

Lawson continued her education, earning a Masters degree in 1965 from Seattle Pacific University. She graduated in the top of her class with honors.

“I majored in math, I love math,” Lawson commented. “I never had to take a test in high school, because if you got a 95% grade all the time, you didn’t have too. It wasn’t until I got to college that I had to take my first test, and then you had to all the time.”

“I truly believe that she could still teach school, at least on a part time basis,” Mcintosh said.

“I would be an awful substitute; they would tell me the street, and I would say where is that?” said Lawson with a laugh.
Pastor Dan became friends with Lawson when he taught Bible study at the retirement home, and says that, “Her smile would light-up a room.”

Lawson, who has eight grandchildren, 12 great and great-great grandchildren also enjoys music.

“I like all kinds of music, even jazz,” she said, as she bobbed her head and moved her body to the music in the dining room.

“Everybody really likes her, she’s the best,” said cook Jesse Tolbert

There could not have been a happier face than Lawson’s as she sat and enjoyed celebrating 100 years of life.

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