Georgia-2011-HR486-Introduced

WHEREAS, the State of Georgia mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished citizens with the passing of Mr. Lawton M. Nease, Jr., on November 13, 2010; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Nease was born on July 16, 1919, in Effingham County, Georgia, a beloved son of the late Lawton M. Nease, Sr., and Evelyn Seckinger Nease; and

WHEREAS, as a young man, Mr. Nease was exposed to a rural life and hard work but learned early of the importance of helping to provide for others, joining his relatives to distribute food and aid to his neighbors in need during the days before there was a government welfare system; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Nease and his brother, Warren, delivered newspapers in the morning before school and in the afternoons, using their earnings to help support the family and help their parents with household expenses; and

WHEREAS, he served as a guardian of this nation's freedom and liberty with the United States Navy, valiantly and courageously protecting his fellow Americans during World War II and the Occupation of Japan; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Nease was the owner and operator of L.M. Nease Service Station in Guyton for over 56 years, where he always greeted customers with a friendly smile and provided nothing but first-class service; and

WHEREAS, after his retirement from the service station, Mr. Nease continued to demonstrate his compassion for others through his quiet community service efforts and the building of his former business was converted into The Filling Station, a community food bank by Guyton Christian Church; and
WHEREAS, a man of deep and abiding faith, Mr. Nease was an active member of Guyton United Methodist Church, where he cofounded the Men's 5th Sunday Breakfast in 1956, taught Sunday school, and served on numerous committees; and

WHEREAS, a Lifetime Service Rotary Award winner, Mr. Nease served on the town council of Guyton for over 30 years, actively promoted the town, and was a member of the Guyton Masonic Lodge, #428 F. & A.M., for over 70 years, the Scottish and York Rite, Alee Temple, Coastal Daylight Lodge, and the Sojourners; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Nease was united in love and marriage to the late Jane Pool Nease and was blessed with the joy of his remarkable children, Marsha Usher, Sue Nease and Bill Exley, and Brenda and Lawton "Mac" Nease III; and

WHEREAS, he was the proud grandfather of his grandchildren Jim and Becky Exley, Rhett and Nichole Exley, Shannon Wilkins, and the late Lawton M. Nease IV; and his great-grandchildren, Margaret, Lawton, Mary Bowden, Natalie, Ally, Emery, and Briggs; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Nease will long be remembered for his love of family and friendship, and he will be missed by all who had the great fortune of knowing him.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body join in honoring the life and memory of Mr. Lawton M. Nease, Jr., and express their deepest and most sincere regret at his passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the family of Mr. Lawton M. Nease, Jr.