OTD: Funeral held for iconic Canadian dealer

On today’s date in 2016, about 150 people attended a military-style funeral for former numismatic dealer James Lawson.

Among the attendees were Lawson’s friends, family and former colleagues from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

A frequent presence at major Canadian coin shows for decades, Lawson enjoyed a second career in numismatics after serving as a member of the RCMP for 35 years. He retired from the force in 1986 and opened Lawson Gallery, which specialized in fine art and rare coins, with his wife Pat. Lawson Gallery was located in Stittsville, a suburb of Ottawa.

In 2014, the Lawsons relocated to Newmarket, Ont., where they continued to operate the gallery from their home.

Lawson died on Jan. 16, 2016, with a funeral service held two months later at Ottawa’s Beechwood Cemetery, where his plot is held within the RCMP section. He was survived by his wife, two daughters Penny and Pamela as well as his grandchildren Erica and Owen Cameron.

Lawson was a life member of the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association and an active member of the Canadian Association of Numismatic DealersOntario Numismatic Association and American Numismatic Association.

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