Lawton Edward Houston

Lawton Houston, 92, of Franklin, NC, passed away at home after a long battle with debilitating illness.  He was born and raised in Macon County.  He is a World War II Army veteran and served in Italy.  After the war, he worked in Baltimore, MD, in tunnel construction.  He married Ella Mae Russell of Glenville, NC.  They moved to Brevard, NC, where he worked for fifteen years as a telephone repair lineman, eight years in construction at Dupont, and ten years at Olin.  They had one son - Allan.  Ella Mae died after 59 years of marriage.  Lawton was an avid gardener, bee keeper and for many years had a bluegrass band called the Blue Ridge Ramblers.  He was an outdoorsman and loved trout fishing and hunting.  He was a member and a deacon of Pine Grove Baptist Church for many years.  He loved a good story, told a good story and made our story so much better.   Lawton is survived by his wife, Joanne Coffey Houston, her children Daniel Coffey and Don Hall. He is also survived by his son Dr. Allan Houston and his wife Becky, grandchildren Brian Houston and his wife Nicole, and Laura Johnson and her husband Todd, along with four great-grandsons - Grady and Oliver Houston and Jack and Miles Johnson.

A funeral service will be held 11:00 A.M. Friday, February 1, 2019 in the Chapel of Bryant-Grant Funeral Home with the Rev. Greg Rogers officiating. Burial will follow in the Higdonville Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Thursday, January 31, 2019 at Bryant-Grant Funeral Home & Crematory.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to Care Partners Hospice of Franklin 170 Church St. Franklin, NC 28734.

Online condolences can be left at www.bryantgrantfuneralhome.com

Bryant-Grant Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Houston family.