Richard "R.D." Dawson

Richard “R.D.” Dawson was born on May 31, 1939 in Houston, Texas to his parents, Albert & Evelyn Dawson. He went to be with his Lord and Savior May 20, 2023. He was a member of Grace Baptist Church where he served as a deacon. He loved cooking with the men of the church and telling truck driving stories where he got the nickname “Old Buzzard”. He drove a truck for Central Freight Lines for 40 years. He enjoyed fishing on Lake Fork and later at Mill Creek Bay on Toledo Bend. He was known at Mill Creek as “the catfish king”. He loved working in the yard, grooming his lawn and loved antique trucks.

His family was the love of his life. He enjoyed spending time with them at the lake and playing jokers and marbles.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Bill Dawson. He is survived by his wife Nita of 51 years; daughter, Gina Robbins and husband, Danny; daughter, Debbie Bowers; sister Sally Ryan & husband, Bill; sister-in-law Jerry Dawson. He is also survived by granddaughter Courtney DeBerry and husband, Cole; granddaughter Danielle Pardue and husband, Clint; granddaughter Whitney Wallace and grandson Toby Bowers. Great-grandchildren Anderson, Bostyn and Ellis Pardue; and his namesake Dawson DeBerry. Nephews Jay and Steve Dawson, Rick Ryan; and Pat Hays; nieces Sherry Steen, Gloria Templet and Carol Hopkins; great-niece Jaycee Dawson and great-nephews Dalton, Janson and Jake Dawson; and by a host of friends.

R.D. will be dearly missed.

In lieu of flowers “Memorial Contributions” can be made to Grace Baptist Church located at 3417 Berry, Groves, Texas 77619 in loving memory of RD Dawson.

A gathering of family and friends will be on Thursday, May 25, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., with a Celebration of R.D.’s Life to begin at 11:00 a.m., at Grace Baptist Church of Groves; 3417 Berry Ave., Groves, Texas 77619. A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, May 25, 2023, at Rusk County Memorial Gardens Cemetery; 5013 US-259, Henderson, Texas 75652.

Serving as pallbearers for R.D. include Walter Simmons, Mike Pardue, Al Puente, Jake Berkline, Butch Bertin and Mike Weeren.

James 5:14-16

Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.