Charles Collus Lawhead

LAWHEAD, ABARR, MURPHY, HOFFMAN

Posted By: Richard Jackson (email)
Date: 11/28/2021 at 09:23:20

Dr. C. Collus Lawhead

Dr. C. Collus Lawhead, 70 of Mt. Ayr, Iowa passed on Monday, May 20th, 2019.

Collus was born in Leon, Iowa on November 9, 1948 to Dr. Charles W. Lawhead and Florence Abarr Lawhead. He grew up in Mount Ayr having fun as a kid playing baseball with friends in his parents’ front yard. In high school he enjoyed band, choir, baseball, and golf. He played the lead role in the Mikado and Carousel musicals. His golf team had an undefeated record for 5 dual meets. Collus graduated from high school in the class of 1966.

At the University of Iowa, Collus received a Bachelor of Science degree then graduated from the School of Dentistry in 1974. In college, he was chosen to sing for a select group called The Old Gold Singers. Collus was also a founder of the University of Iowa chapter of TKE fraternity. In the early 70’s, while he was at the University of Iowa, he sang with a jazz trio Two Plus One that performed in Coralville and Waterloo. He has always been and always will be a loyal Hawkeye fan.

On March 6th, 1970, Collus was united in marriage to Jane Murphy in Rock Island, Illinois. The loving couple was blessed with two wonderful children, Lauran Jeanne and Charles David.

Collus started his dental practice in Mt. Ayr after graduating in 1974 and practiced for 40 years. He loved caring for his patients assisted by Diane Woods, Karen Pettinger and Bryce Bear. Collus continued with the family tradition and was the 3rd generation of the Lawhead family to practice dentistry in Mt. Ayr. He was later recognized as an Associate Fellow of Significant Endowment for the University of Iowa College of Dentistry.

His life was centered around his faith. As a lifelong member of the First Christian Church, he served as an elder for many years. He loved helping with the CYF kids. He was passionate about sharing God’s love through song singing in the church choir. Despite his failing health this past winter, Collus sang in the Velda Rose church choir in Mesa, the same choir his parents had sung with when they lived there.

Collus was a charter member of the Ringgold Singers, and loved doing duets with Judy Cunning, Sherri Allen, and his sister, Camille. He also shared memorable life celebrations with his friends and family in song. He is remembered for his role in Something’s a Foot a Moonlighters production. As a patron of the Princess Theater, he entertained with his family at the first Princess Gala in 2007.

He loved the opportunity to play his dad’s trombone in high school, in the community band directed by Merrill Perry, and the Lawhead family band at a Sun Valley Lake Memorial Day.

Collus loved playing golf!!! He was a Mt. Ayr Country Club tournament champion in 74, 80, and 81 and participated in the Tournament of Champions in Atlantic, Iowa. He enjoyed golf with his brother Carlin in Muscatine where they won the 1988 Member/guest Tournament at Geneva Golf Course. He won his green jacket at the Wakonda Club Blazer Day Tournament in 1983 and 1984 with his dear friend from college, Dr. David Blaha. Throughout the years he participated in Jay-Lynn-O Golf Tours, Senior Golf, and sharing his love of golf with his family.

Collus served as chaplain for the Sons of the American Legion, was a voracious reader and member of the Mt. Ayr Public Library board, and member of the Ringgold Mutual Insurance Board.

He shared his humor and love of laughter with his patients, friends, and family using his witty play on words and silly jokes. “Bananas are my favorite fruits, because they have appeal”, sometimes singing it to a jolly tune. Collus also enjoyed having group hugs with his family always showering everyone with love.

He was preceded in death by his father, Dr. Charles W. Lawhead and grandparents Dr. C. C. and Ferrah Lawhead; and Carl and Julia Abarr.

Those left to cherish Collus’ memory are his wife Jane and his children Dr. Lauran (Dr. David) Hoffman and David (Paula) Lawhead; grandchildren, Ashton and Brittyn Hoffman, Katy and Elijah Lawhead; his loving mother Florence Lawhead, sister Camille (Dick) Jackson, brother Dr. Carlin (Vicki) Lawhead, and many wonderful nephews and nieces.

Collus loved his family, friends, church, community, and country.

Memorials are to the First Christian Church, Princess Theater, and the American Legion, all in Mount Ayr.