Obituary of B.J. Laws

B.J. Laws, 63, of Cherokee passed away Sunday, June 26, 2011 at his residence. A native of McDowell County, he had been a resident of Cherokee for the past 41 years. He was the son of the late Martha Rosetta Laws Howard. He was a veteran of the US Army and US Navy having served in the Vietnam War with the 101st Air Borne. He was preceded in death by his wife, Anna Lee Murphy Laws and a granddaughter, Anna Lee Morales. He is survived by four children, James Erickson of Dandridge, TN, James Haigler of Cherokee, Sheila Hyatt of Cherokee, Annette Rodriguez of Cherokee; three grandchildren, John Morales of Cherokee, Robert Haigler of Cherokee, D.J. Erickson of Knoxville, TN; two sisters, Gale Howard and Shirley Elliott both of Cherokee; and one uncle, J.C. Laws of Marion. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday in the chapel of Crisp Funeral Home. Dr. Jerry Dean Lowery will officiate. Burial will be in the Birdtown Cemetery with military graveside rites conducted by the Steve Youngdeer American Legion Post 143. The family will receive friends from 1 until 2 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.