Mildred Mable Cooper Lawton, 102, of Laramie, Wyoming died Thursday, July 23, 2026 at her home. She was born in Dows, Iowa on November 17, 1923, to Roy and Mammie (Isaacson) Cooper. After graduating from high school in Dows in 1941, Milly worked in a restaurant, “The Sweet Shop” in Laramie. After her future husband received a medical discharge from the military, she married Lyle Bruce Lawton on November 21, 1943 in Albert Lea, Minnesota. They lived in Rock River, Medicine Bow and Laramie, Wyoming. Milly started work for the U.S. Forest Service in 1963 in Medicine Bow and retired from the same in Laramie in 1984.
Milly was a member of the United Methodist Church of Laramie, Hanna Chapter 46 of Order of Eastern Star at Hanna and Medicine Bow for 65 plus years, the Union Pacific Old Timers Club 5 of Laramie. She donated much time to volunteering at the Ivinson Memorial Hospital in Laramie.
She is survived by her son, Bruce Lawton of Laramie, WY; grandsons, Eric Lawton of Aurora, CO, Christopher Lawton of Salt Lake City, UT; and granddaughter, Natalie Phillips of Colorado Springs, CO.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Lyle; her brothers, DeWayne Bridges and Emery Cooper.
A Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at the United Methodist Church with Rev. Gary Wilken, officiating, 1215 E Gibbon St. Laramie, WY 82072. Interment will follow at Greenhill Cemetery.
Condolences Bruce, Millie was one of our favorite persons to visit. From the days when the Lawton's lived in the Medicine Bow Depot when our folks got together to play cards and you were Lloyd Bridges of Sea Hunt while Max, Connie and I dove off the "ship" (bunkbed) and into the ocean of the bedroom, Millie always had great cookies for us to enjoy after our strenuous dives. We have good memories to share about your Mom, especially during the USFS July 4th celebrations in the Bow Forest. Millie will certainly be missed but never forgotten by anyone who knew her. Randy and Anne Shipman
Bruce, sorry to hear of your mom’s passing. She was a such a nice person and a good friend to my mom. They had a lot of history together.