Calvin Dawson

Calvin Monroe (Shorty) (Dido) Dawson CHICO: World War II veteran Calvin Monroe (Shorty) (Dido) died Friday, October 28, 2016 in Decatur after a brief illness. Calvin was born January 24, 1924 to Calvin and Cynthia Cordelia (Millican) Dawson in Crowell, Texas. Calvin joined the United States Army in 1942 three weeks after his eighteenth birthday. He served on the Ernest Hines, an Army Owned hospital ship stationed in the Mediterranean Sea until 1945. He retired from Cities Service Gas Co. in 1987. He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and American Legion. He was a member of Bethel Baptist Church of Alvord and a founding member of the VFW post in Chico. Calvin was preceded in death by his parents; Calvin and Cynthia Dawson; his first wife, Marie Dawson, three sons: Jimmy Wayne, William Calvin and Jerry Lee Dawson; one daughter, Darlena Kay Farington, three stepsons: Guenn Peyton, Rodney and Stevie York; one grandson, one granddaughter; one great-grandson; one brother and seven sisters. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn Hudson Dawson, four daughers: Glenda Brooks and husband, Don, of Kemp, Barbara Moore of Chico, Tracy York and husband, Jerry, of Buffalo Springs, Leann Stack and husband, Josh, of Chico; stepdaughters: Debbie Cole and husband, Jim; Brenda Heppe and husband, Clarence; two stepsons: Larry and Danny York, seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, and a host of friends. Military graveside service will be held Monday, October 31, 2016 at Dawson Family Cemetery in Chico. Rev. Terry Brown of Bethel Baptist Church will officiate. Honorary pallbearers will be his grandsons. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Chico Chamber of Commerce Veteran’s Memorial Park fund.