Myers Dawson

Myers (Sonny) Dawson, born October 15, 1940, was a stronger soldier.  He was the 4th child from two wonderful parents, Osbey Dawson and Susie Heard Dawson, and a small town called Emerson, Arkansas.  He attended school at the Noxubee Community Center and then transferred to Walker High School after the community school closed.  At Walker he played basketball with begin his lifelong love and fascination for sports.

At an early age, Myers united with Noxubee C.M.E. Church body in Emerson.  While growing up he hunted coons, squirrels, and rabbits— thinking of it as “good eating.” Along with his siblings, he grew up picking cotton, plowing mules, pulling corn, sloping hogs, killing hogs, and feeding chickens.  While in school, he dated Pearlene Nunley whom he later married.

 At the age of 20, Sonny, along with his brothers, Prentis and Arteria, and first cousin, Johnny Center, ventured away from their home in Arkansas to pursue jobs as carpenters. This took them to the Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona.   All of them were gifted with their hands. While in New Mexico, Sonny sent for his bride, Pearlene, and their two-month-old son, Harvey Emmanuel, to join him.  After bouncing from city-to-city pursuing work, the family decided to settle in Albuquerque. Eventually, they were blessed with their second son, Delbert Darnice.  Later in life, Myers and Pearlene gained two bonus kids, Jessica and Joshua and raised them as their own.

When he and his eight siblings got together, regardless of wherever they were, you could hear their laughter and joy all the way down in Arkansas.  You could bet that Sonny was making some of his corny jokes or sharing things that happened to him on his life’s journey.

Sonny and Pearlene loved attending reunions, be it family or school.  They would start packing that old blue van weeks before the event begins. Sonny’s willingness to learn and work quickly and efficiently gained him the reputation among his peers of being a hard-working employee which guaranteed him steady work throughout his career. Sonny quickly joined Carpenter’s Local Union 1319 and stayed a member for over 25 years. He reached the ranks of being a master carpenter and acted as a jobsite foreman on several commercial jobs. He helped to build many of the commercial buildings in Albuquerque, Gallup, Farmington and many other cities. He and his wife were sole proprietor and manager of 20 low-income apartments for many years.

For relaxation, Sonny enjoyed being around family, friends and working on the ranch tending cattle, bailing hay, and doing odd jobs around the family ranch. Other hobbies included riding motorcycles, watching westerns (both TV shows and movies), and watching college and professional basketball games. 

It is understood that everything that happens is in His will.  The Lord willed that Sonny would be preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Pearlene Nunley Dawson, his son, Delbert Darnice (Dale); his brothers: Arteria and Osbey Dawson, Jr.; and sister, Gwendolyn Jean Dawson.

On March 1, 2024, Sonny had a reservation that could not be cancelled. Left to cherish his memories are his sons:   Harvey E. (Kathy) Dawson and Joshua Dawson; daughter. Jessica M. Dawson; brother: Prentis (Mildred) Dawson, Willie (Nelda) Dawson, Norris Dawson; sisters: Ozetter Crowley, and Hannah (Reuben) Drake; sister-in-law:  Helen Arlington: brother-in-law: Harold Nunley, and a host of other relatives and friends.