On Wednesday, January 19, 2022, William Edmond “Ed” Lawless, 82 of Linden, Texas, went to join his wife, Mary Lou in their mansion on the hilltop. Ed was born August 20, 1939 in Olney, Illinois, the son of Virgil and Martha (Wilson) Lawless.

At a young age, he began to work with his dad and granddad in their family businesses, including Lawless Grocer/Gas Station and Lawless Radio/Telephone Repair. It was there that he learned the value of hard work and the benefits of earning his own way. He passed these same values down to his own children. Ed was the Lawless family’s third generation business owner/operator.

He married Mary Lou (Huchel) April 27, 1963. He graduated from the Reisch American school of Auctioneering in 1965. He began traveling to the East Coast to buy and sell antiques, pianos, etc.

Thereafter, he and Mary Lou started their business in Olney, which included antique auctions, antique/reproduction furniture store, lamp production businesses and more. In 1979, they moved to Linden, Texas and opened Ed’s Auction House/Wholesale Trade Center and Ed’s Auto Sales. Together, they owned and operated several businesses for over 40 years.

In 2004, he became a certified minister and he and Mary Lou began holding monthly church services.

A self made business man, no matter where he was, he was thinking and working on the “next deal.” He was unconventional, a very creative thinker and never settled for being “typical of commonplace” in his business ventures. He strived to go beyond normal limits. Although he focused most of his time on businesses, he did make a little time over the years for things he enjoyed.

He always had time to tell a story and he had many of them! In the early 1970s Ed acquired a stock car and began racing at White Squirrel Speedway every weekend for the next six years. He also enjoyed going to and participating in car shows, the “thrill of the deal” bidding on and buying classic cars, uniques and antiques. Being a businessman, he found a way to include the thing he enjoyed, such as collector cars, antiques, vintage toys, etc., by making them part of his inventory. He also enjoyed time he and Mary Lou shared reading and studying Bible scripture together.

He is survived by his son, Jeff (Colette) Lawless; three daughters, Brenda (James) Washington, Renee (Deriek) Eaves, and Diana Lawless; 15 grandchildren; and 32 great-grandchildren.

Ed was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Mary Lou; parents Virgil and Martha Lawless; brother Dave Lawless; one son, Bret Lawless; grandson Chad Littlejohn; great-granddaughter Kaley Wilkerson; great-grandson Braylon Williams; one nephew, Dane Lawless; and special family member Clay Samanie.

Service for William Edmond “Ed” Lawless, 82, will be Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022 at New Colony Baptist Church with Rev. J. D. Terry officiating. Burial at New Colony Cemetery Reeder-Davis Funeral Home, Linden.

The Hometown Register, Olney, IL