Joe Leslie Dawson, Jr., died January 13, 2022, in Lexington at the age of 74 years 2 months 18 days. A visitation was held Sunday, January 16, 2022 at Wadley’s Funeral Chapel, entrusted to the care of Wadley’s Funeral Service.
Joe was born October 26, 1947, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, to Joe and Vanda Louella (Knop) Dawson. Raised in the Army, the family was stationed all over the country. Joe graduated from Noble High School in 1966.
He was inducted into the United States Air Force on June 10, 1966 proudly serving during Vietnam. Joe was honorably discharged on June 9, 1970. He worked as a mechanic in the military and continued after his discharge, working as a mechanic and an electrical technician on heavy equipment.
In 2007, he and Joyce (Herron) Copas met and became a couple. Joe loved collecting books, studying history and archeology. He was a handyman and enjoyed tinkering with stuff, taking it apart and rebuilding it. Joe was adventurous and enjoyed thrill rides and trying new foods. He loved western movies and old country music. Joe also collected nativity scenes.
Joe was preceded in death by his father, Joe Dawson; his mother and stepfather, Vanda and Jack Christensen; his daughter, Kimberly Kay Dawson; his stepdaughter, Betty Jean McGehee; and his brother, Ronald Dawson.
Survivors include his spouse, Joyce Copas; his daughter, Lisa Klein and husband, Randy, of Katy, Texas; his stepchildren, Gary McGehee, Vickie Wallace and Bobby McGehee; his grandchildren, Alyssa Klein, Tanner Klein and Ava Klein, all of Katy, Texas; his stepgrandchildren, Tammy Henson, Kimberly Fraizer, Michelle Madden, Shane McGehee, Gary McGehee, Renee McGehee, Shawna Cox, Dianna Wallace, Zack McGehee, Curry Bain, Ashley McGehee and Stetson McGehee; his siblings, Danell Landes and husband, Matthew, of Houston, Texas, Karla Rankin and husband, Robert, Jacqueline Mullen and husband, William of Noble, Kristina Randolph and husband, Lewis, of Denton, Texas, Katrina Gaskill and husband, Thomas, of Crossroads, Texas; nieces and nephews, Riley Rankin, Lauren Randolph, ReAnne and Aaron Keister, Desmond, Grayson and Avery Keister and Collin Mullen; and numerous other relatives and friends.
