Mr. Michael John Lawlor

Michael John Lawlor, 80, of Salisbury passed away Monday, July 13, 2015 at his residence. Born December 26, 1934 in Flushing, NY, he was the son of the late George and Louise Albanese Lawlor. He was raised in Bayside, Long Island, NY. He attended Columbia University on a scholarship and graduated in 1956 with a BS in chemical engineering. Mr. Lawlor was employed by Foster Wheeler Corp. and spent 4 years as a contractor’s representative at the Philadelphia Navy Yard during the construction of the aircraft carrier “Kitty Hawk” (CV-63) and later worked in the company’s research lab in Carteret, NJ. He changed employers in 1965 to National Starch and Chemical as an engineer in the Development Division. He was transferred to Salisbury in 1971 to be plant engineer of the newly acquired Proctor Chemical Co. at the Lumber St. site. He supervised the clean-up of the plant after the 1983 explosion and designed the subsequent glue plant. He transferred to the Cedar Springs Road plant in 1985 where he worked in the Engineering Department until his retirement in 1993. During this time he was enrolled in the Mathematics. Department of UNCC as a part-time student, and won the Calculus Prize Examination twice. He was inducted into 2 honor societies. After retirement he traveled widely and was fond of hiking in the mountains and participating in math forums on the internet. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Josephine Test Lawlor on February 27, 1998: daughter, Leslie Lawlor on January 30, 1991; granddaughter, Michaela Autumn Lawlor on April 15, 1989. Those left to cherish his memory are his sons, Gregory Lawlor and wife Rita of Faith, Eric Lawlor and Matthew Lawlor of Salisbury, Rev. Mark Lawlor of Charlotte; granddaughter, Amber Lawlor of Salisbury; great-grandson Cole; sister, Ricia Irwin of Queensland, Australia. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted 2 PM - Thursday, (July 16) at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with the Rev. Mark S. Lawlor, Celebrant and Rev. John Eckert, Concelebrant, officiating. Inurnment will follow at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Cemetery. Memorials may be made to ARC of Rowan County, 108 Dorsett Dr., Salisbury, NC 28144 Summersett Funeral Home is assisting the Lawlor family. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com

Mr. Michael John Lawlor

December 26, 1934 - July 13, 2015