Mr. Earl Charles Lairson's Obituary
Earl Charles Lairson C.P.A., 87, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on April 2, 2015. He was born and raised on a farm in Pottowatomie County, Oklahoma. He attended grade school at New Hope and Oak Grove rural schools and graduated from Tecumseh High School in 1945 as valedictorian of his class. He attended East Central State University and after his active military service attended and graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a major in accounting. He later took graduate courses at the University of Houston.
He joined the U.S. Regular Army at the end of World War II at the age of 17. After his active duty he joined the Oklahoma Air National Guard for two years. He also enrolled in ROTC at the University of Oklahoma, received his commission in the U.S. Army Reserves in 1950, and was discharged a First Lieutenant in 1954.
In 1952, he came to Houston and joined Ernst & Ernst, now Ernst & Young. He established his CPA firm, Earl Lairson & Co. P.C., in 1970 which was merged with John Null & Associates in 1997 to become Null-Lairson P.C. He was a life member of many CPA organizations including the American Institute of CPAs, Texas Society of CPAs, and Houston Chapter of CPAs. He was also a charter member of National Conference of CPA Practitioners and served on its national board and was also president of the Houston Chapter for two years. He was even a founding member of the Texas Association of CPAs and served on its Board of Directors. He was appointed to the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy for two terms by Governor Bill Clements and also served one year as chairman. He was a long-time member of the Oklahoma and Louisiana Societies of CPAs.
As a member of First Methodist Church of Houston for over 40 years, he served on the administrative board, was a teacher of Herveys Main Street Sunday School class, and a member of the finance and audit committees. Since 2008 he has been an active member of Candlelight Church of Christ and served as a trustee.
He has been active in the Republican Party since 1960. He worked in the Draft Goldwater campaign in 1964 and he block walked for George H.W. Bush in his first campaign for Congress in 1966. He also participated in many other Republican Party efforts. He had the privilege of serving as a Republican Party Precinct Chairman for 35 years and 10 years on the Texas State Republican Executive Committee. He was very dedicated in all that he took part in.
He also dedicated his time and served on many community and service organizations throughout his adult years. As a member of the Houston Club, he served on its board of directors and was chairman of the finance committee. He was a life member of the University of Oklahoma Alumni Association and the OU Club of Houston. He was a charter member of the Greater Heights Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Houston Pachyderm Club. In fact, he was the founding president of the Pachyderm Club of Northwest Houston and was awarded the “Tough Tusk Award” for all his work as founder. He served as president and program chairman of the Northwest Executive Round Table for many years. He was a charter member, vice president, and long-time member of the Magic Circle Exchange Club of Houston. He was also a long-time member of the board of Trustees and a member emeritus of the Educational Advancement Foundation, a foundation founded by Harry Lucas for the purpose of exploring alternative teaching methods in math and science at universities. He served for 20 years as an advisory board member and accountant of the Free Enterprise Institute under the leadership of Roland Story. He felt privileged to be able to serve on four Harris County grand juries, including two as foreman.
Being a Mason was something Earl loved being involved in. He was a life member of the American Legion and an endowed member of the Oak Forest Masonic Lodge No. 1398. Other Masonic memberships he held included Arabia Temple Shriners, Tranquility Lodge 2000, Sam Houston Hall of Fame, Ruthven Commandery No. 2, Washington Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, and Houston Council No. 1.
He was always active in his church, his profession, and his community. But his true passion was his family. He loved living near so much of his family and made sure to celebrate everyone’s graduations, birthdays, weddings, and any other milestone no matter how big or small. He loved his family more than anything and we will all miss him and treasure his memory forever. We are the privileged ones to have known and loved him for so long. We thank God that we were given so many wonderful years with such a caring, devoted man. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather.
He was predeceased by his parents William Henry Lairson and Mattie Lea Pierce Lairson, his sister Cordelia Lairson Gilbert, and his brother Bart Lairson. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Virginia Lou Cagle Lairson; four children, Karen Hurst and husband Randy of Pearland, Mark Earl Lairson of Houston, Eric Charles Lairson of Houston, and Dawn Welch and husband David of Nacogdoches; nine grandchildren, Erin Hencey and husband Edward of Pearland, Steven Hurst and wife Stephanie of Rosenburg, Candace Powell M.D. and husband Erik of Pearland, William Wells III USMC of Houston, Carrie Hurst of Pearland, Michael Earl Hurst and wife Grace of Pearland, Hannah, Josh, and Rachel Welch of Nacogdoches; 9 great-grandchildren, Erik and Emily Hencey; Carson, Wyatt Charles, and Claire Powell; Steven Richard and Sophia Hurst; Kate Hurst; and a great grandchild expected in June. He is also survived by his twin sister Earline Ellen Childers and younger sister Rosie Brightwell of Shawnee, Oklahoma as well as nieces, nephews, and a host of friends.
Friends and family are cordially invited to a Memorial Service that will honor and celebrate the life of Earl Lairson. It will be held at 2:00pm on Monday, April 6, 2015, at Candlelight Church of Christ, 4215 Watonga Blvd., Houston, TX 77092.
In lieu of flowers please contribute in Mr. Lairson’s name to Free Enterprise Institute, 9525 Katy Freeway, Houston, 77024 or SPCA, 900 Portway, Houston, 77024 or the charity of your choice.
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