MADISON – Jean Helen Lawton, 70, died at home of a heart attack on Friday, July 8, 2016. Jean was born in Madison, WI on March 14, 1946, to John A. and Esther R. (Rogers) Lawton.

She graduated from UW-Madison with a degree in French and a strong emphasis on History. She spent a memorable junior year abroad in Aix en Provence. She received her law degree from Harvard University in 1971 and then practiced with a number of small local law firms and in her own practice in Madison over the course of her career.

Jean loved to travel and returned to France as well as traveling to New Zealand. She also visited friends around the country. She never lost her love of languages and learning, as she picked many hobbies and pursued them to perfection. Jean was active in Altrussa and also volunteered her time with a number of organizations that supported education.

She is survived by her brother, Jack Lawton, and his wife, Bonnie McMullin-Lawton of Madison and their children and spouses, Alissa Lawton O’Farrell and Brian O’Farrell and their daughter Fiona, of Shorewood, and Alex Lawton and Megan Klosterman of Walden, CO. She is further survived by an aunt and uncle, Bob and Jean (Rogers) Schoen, of Middleton, WI, and an uncle and aunt, Jim and Alice Lawton of New London, WI as well as many cousins and wonderful neighbors. Jean’s family expresses special gratitude to Marion Stuenkel for all her support and cheerfulness in recent days.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents; paternal and maternal grandparents; and several aunts and uncles.

A memorial gathering will be held on Saturday, July 23, 2016 at JOYCE-RYAN FUNERAL HOME, 5701 Odana Road, Madison from 10:00 am until 12:00 noon.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Madison Public Library Foundation or Olbrich Botannical Gardens Society, Inc.

To view and sign this guestbook please visit www.ryanfuneralservice.com.

Jean Lawton

March 14, 1946 - July 08, 2016

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