I just found out tonight that Gallatin County's long-time historian Lucille Lawler has died. Below his her obituary from The Daily Register in Harrisburg. With regrets, Jon Musgrave www.IllinoisHistory.com Lucille (Duffy) Lawler Lucille (Duffy) Lawler, 93, died Wednesday, June 26, 2002. She was born Oct. 3, 1908, on a farm in Pond Settlement near Ridgway to the late John and Hannah (Doherty) Duffy. On Dec. 27, 1932, she married James T. Lawler, who preceded her in death in 1991. She was a member of the St. Patrick's Pond Settlement Parish all of her life. She was a teacher, wife and mother of six children with 20 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She has authored six books, six videos and three plays. For 24 years, Lucille taught elementary grades in Gallatin County. After retiring, Lucille substituted until she was 80 years old in 1988. At a time when most people are thinking of slowing down and enjoying the "Golden Years," Lucille Lawler began her career as an author. The year was 1968 when the Gallatin County historian wrote "Gallatin County, Gateway to Illinois." Lawler was 60 years old. She describes her life as one of three phases: teaching years, mothering years and writing years. Lucille began her teaching career at the young age of 16. Her trips to the old Maple Grove School and other one-room schools would often be made on horseback. It was after her children were raised that Lawler began to concentrate on writing and promoting history. Some of the many accomplishments of Lucille's lifetime: author of six books and six videos; founding president of Gallatin County Historical Society (1966); first president of the Illinois State Historical Congress (1969); and Illinois Mother of the Year (1987). Lucille's days were filled with volunteer work with the Gallatin County Homemakers Association, promoting tourism in southeastern Illinois, playing the piano for the residents of Ridgway Manor Nursing Home and writing a new book. "She didn't like to play the piano a lot in public as she didn't learn how to play it until she was 80." She didn't dwell in the past, just wanted to preserve and promote it. She also wrote for the local newspaper on vanishing landmarks and now has them in a book, published in June 2000. It includes 73 barns and stories of their owners. Lucille is survived by: three sons, Msgr. Joe Lawler of McLeansboro; Raymond and Ellen Lawler; Dr. Bill and Terri Lawler, all of Marion; two daughters, Mary Ellen and Deacon Gary Walsh of Katy, Texas and Lucy and Bill Zilch of Bloomingdale.; three sisters, Evadeen Coleman and Geneva Scates of Shawneetown and Betty Seely of Ridgway; grandchildren Charlotte, Beth, John, Michael, Cindy, Lucy, Colleen, Bridget, Mike, Elizabeth, Jim, Todd, Jay, Adam, Ben, David, Dan, Shaun, Mark, Christy; and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, one son, Pat Lawler; two brothers, Martin and Steve Duffy; three sisters, Regina Drone, Ruth McGuire, and Marie Duffy. Visitation is after 4 p.m. Friday, June 28, 2002, at Cox & Son Funeral Home in Ridgway where a prayer service followed by a Daughters of Isabella Service will start at 8 p.m. Funeral Mass is 11 a.m. Saturday, June 29, 2002, at St. Patrick's Church in Pond Settlement with Msgr. Joseph Lawler and Bishop Wilton Gregory co-celebrants. Interment is at St. Patrick's Cemetery. At the family's request, they would like donations be made to the Gallatin County Historical Society in Mrs. Lawler's memory instead of purchasing flowers. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.