John J. Dawson (“Jack”)
John J. Dawson (“Jack”)
John J. Dawson (“Jack”), 83, died at his home Monday,
January 22, 2018. Jack often said that everyone has a story, and it is always
one worth telling. This is Jack Dawson’s story.
On October 12 (the day he liked to say that all great
things were discovered), 1934, John J. Dawson, Jr., was born in Baltimore,
Maryland, son of Rev. John J. Dawson, Sr., and Ida Dorothy (Abbey) Dawson. The
son of a Methodist minister, Jack, his older sisters Ida and Nina, and younger
brother Walt moved frequently but spent most of their childhood in and around
Baltimore and Annapolis. Jack graduated from Baltimore City College, then studied
Education/History at University of Maryland, College Park, earning his B.A. in
1956. In his youth, Jack felt the call to follow in his father’s footsteps and
join the Methodist ministry, leading him to earn his Master of Divinity at
Wesley Theological Seminary (Washington, D.C.) in 1959.
While attending a regional Methodist Youth Conference
in 1952, he was struck by the beautiful blonde from Cumberland, Maryland, who
was offering the prayer. He leaned over to his friend and said, “One day I am
going to marry that girl.” That girl was Marlene McGraw. They were married at
her home church on August 31, 1957 (John J. Dawson, Sr., officiating). That
same year Jack was appointed to his first church, Lodge Forest Methodist
Church, in Sparrow’s Point, MD. While there, their first child, Deborah Lynn,
was born. Jack was so successful in building a new church at Lodge Forest, that
in1961 he was sent to serve and build a Christian Education Building at Glen
Mar Methodist Church in Ellicott City, Maryland. Their two other children, John
Wesley and Catherine Marlene were born there.
June 1969 marked a turning point in the lives of Jack
and Marlene and their three children. From his earliest childhood listening to
The Lone Ranger
and
Gunsmoke
on the radio, Jack had a love for the west and all that it
represented. In early May he got a phone call about an opening at the First
United Methodist Church in Boise, Idaho. After searching for Boise on a map, he
and Marlene flew to Boise to see the church. By mid-June, they had packed up
the family and all their belongings, driven across the country, and pulled into
to Boise, their new home. They never left.
Two years after accepting the appointment of Associate
Pastor at the “Cathedral of the Rockies,” the Bishop decided to appoint him
Senior Pastor at a church in Portland, Oregon. With a wife, three children, his
mother to support, and no home, Jack, with the support of Marlene, made the
difficult, life-changing decision to remain in Boise. This decision meant
leaving the active ministry and starting over in a new (he had no idea what)
career. That summer, 1971, he was hired by the recently built Mountain States
Tumor Institute in a new position entitled “Clinical Counselor.” His role was
to work with the medical team at MSTI to examine the emotional and
psychological aspects that affect patients and their families when there is a
cancer diagnosis. This was, at that time, a groundbreaking approach to the
treatment of cancer patients and their families. The results of much of Jack’s
research and work with patients at MSTI are documented in his 1978 book,
The Cancer Patient
.
Working daily for years amidst such suffering and
death took its toll, and in 1977 Jack (with Marlene, as always, at his side),
went out on his own and formed the Patient and Family Support Institute. While
continuing to specialize in working with the terminally and chronically ill, he
was also able to expand his practice to work with individuals and families
outside the medical setting. Throughout the years, Jack never left his call as
pastor. This was a part of him, it came as naturally as breathing. He sometimes
filled in for other pastors; he conducted funerals for anyone who asked; best
of all he performed countless wedding ceremonies. He loved bringing people
together and being a part of families, helping to guide them through their best
and worst of times. He also devoted time to his other love—that of teaching. He
taught courses in counseling and health sciences at The College of Idaho, Boise
State University, and spoke before numerous public and private organizations.
On the eve of his 60
th
birthday, Jack felt called
to the active ministry again. May 22, 1994, a fellowship, christened “Light of
the Cross” opened its doors. Serving this church was one of the high points in
his rich, adventurous, and full life. Jack served at Light of the Cross until
his formal retirement on October 12, 2014 (his 80
th
birthday).
Survivors include Jack’s wife, Marlene; his children
Deborah Bonde, Wes, and Catherine (David) Martin; his sister, Nina (Walt) Dennison;
grandchildren Wesley and Elizabeth Martin, Dawson and Jack Bonde; and numerous
nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Ida
Bernard, and his brother Walt.
Services, under the direction of Alden-Waggoner
Funeral Chapel, will be Friday, February 2, 3:00 PM, at First United Methodist
“Cathedral of the Rockies” in Boise, Idaho.
Because of Jack’s love for Boise, its people, and all
that it has to offer, the family asks that memorials be made to a local charity
or organization of your choice.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John J. Dawson (“Jack”), please visit our flower store.
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