Doris Catherine “Dori” Lawson, 69, of Gettysburg, PA., passed away on October 14, 2026. Born November 24, 1956, in Drexel Hill, PA, she was the loving daughter of the late Robert and Adelaide (Tubbs) Lawson.
Upon graduating from Nether Providence High School in 1974, Dori attended Thomas Jefferson University Medical School as the Class Valedictorian earning a diploma in Nursing. She then earned an associate’s degree in Pre-Nursing Studies, was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and the recipient of the 2014 Alumni Professional Achievement Award from Delaware Community College.
Continuing her educational career, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and was a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing from West Chester University in 2004. She obtained her Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner in 2007 from Wilmington University and finally obtain a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Robert Morris University in 2012 doing doctoral research in cardiac stress-testing protocols with her research published in 2013.
Dori devoted her professional life to nursing, medicine, and patient care. A lifelong learner, she advanced throughout her career from registered nurse to family nurse practitioner, earning her Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree finally working as a Nurse Practitioner in Cardiology with the WellSpan Health Cardiology Department.
Dori had a deep love of people, music, and learning. These passions were evident throughout her life, both personally and professionally. She valued education and continued learning throughout her career, and she deeply valued relationships she formed with family, friends, colleagues, and her patients. Throughout her remarkable nursing career, Dori served in nearly every department of the hospital, as a flight nurse on an air medical transport team, and in critical care ground transport.
While her experience spanned many areas of medicine, her true professional passions were emergency medicine and cardiology.
In addition to her remarkable career in nursing, Dori was a passionate cook who thrived in the kitchen and loved cooking for family and friends. She loved the beach and was a ham radio operator, following in the footsteps of her father before her. Dori, lovingly referred to as ‘Mamie,” especially enjoyed watching her granddaughter perform on stages in and around Nashville and treasured spending time with her nieces and nephews.
Dori is survived by her daughter, Christina Kolmus (Ryan) of Clarksville, TN; her granddaughter, Leah; and her brothers, Robert Lawson Jr. of Leesburg, VA., Kenneth Lawson of Philadelphia, PA., and William Lawson (Katey) of Chester Springs, PA. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews: Alex, Abby, Andy, Shea, Jake, and Teagan.
She was preceded in death by her grandson, Caleb and nephew, Liam.
Services are private. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made in Dori’s honor to Pappus House (www.pappashouse.org), in Thomasville, PA, whose staff provided compassionate hospice care during the final chapter of her life.
Arrangements are with Brandenburg & Stein Funeral Parlor, 3045 Baltimore Pike, Gettysburg, PA. To sign the online guestbook and leave condolences, go to www.gettysburgfunerals.com.