Veronica Joy Lawson

Veronica Joy Lawson was born April 17th, 1948, in Hobbs, NM. She passed away peacefully in her home on July 9th, 2025, with her daughter and son-in-law by her side. Veronica was loving, elegant, mystical, talented, intelligent, and fearless. One could say she was always too big for her little body.

Veronica’s father was in the oilfield which required the family live in parts of TX, NM, UT, even a village in Venezuela when Veronica was a small child. The people, jungle, monkeys and wild pomegranates ignited a passion for other cultures in young Veronica.

She graduated from Uintah High School in1966 where she was involved in several different clubs, even science and theatre. She then attended USU for a year then attended CSU. Veronica was majoring in Art Education with a minor in English when she chose to pursue employment with Eimco, an international mining equipment manufacturing company as a technical Illustrator.

She married Brent Boren in 1970… after an engagement ring was mailed back and forth to Vietnam a few times. In 1974 they were blessed with a daughter, Rebecca Boren. In 1978 the family was in a head-on collision with a drunk driver, leaving Veronica in a wheelchair. The family moved to Vernal where Veronica opened an art studio that primarily consisted of her paintings of Native Americans. In 1981 Veronica and Brent divorced but remained close friends.

In 1983, Veronica and her daughter moved to NM. Veronica was able to use her illustration talent at Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. WIPP was the first of its kind facility that stored radioactive material 2,150 feet underground in an ancient salt formation outside of Carlsbad.

In the 90’s, Veronica was approached by DOE to write and institute a Configuration Management program for Sandia National Labs in Albuquerque, NM or Pantex just outside of Amarillo, TX. She chose to transfer to Pantex, a National Nuclear Security Administration Consolidated Nuclear Security (NNSA) management plant. Veronica had to have a Q clearance as CM Manager of the Engineering Division. Pantex disassembled nuclear and high explosives weapons. Veronica retired in October of 2008 and moved back to Vernal to be close to her family.

She was a published author; she wrote several comedic satire magazines about the basin. She then wrote two fantasy horror novels based on Ute folklore. “Summer of Stolen Souls”, and “Cradle of the Water Babies”. Out respect for the people and land that spoke to her so deeply, she poured herself into these novels. Also, she genuinely enjoyed scaring the heck out of her loyal fans.

Veronica loved driving around the Ute Reservation for inspiration with an iced coffee from KahPeeh Kah-ahn Coffee House. She enjoyed visiting with family and friends next to her Koi Pond with her dog, Gizmo. Not one for small talk, when she was ready for guests to leave, she let it be known with an adorable twinkle in her eye. She relaxed by decorating her home in Asian, African, and Middle Eastern art. In her youth, she enjoyed floating the Green River and camping outdoors.

Of all her accomplishments in life, her daughter, Rebecca, was her greatest. Everything she did was for her. She dearly loved her son-in-law, Zachary McReynolds. In her eyes, he hung the moon. She is survived by her cousins, Mike and Larry Hasten, as well as many adored nieces, nephews, and close friends.

Veronica has reunited with her grandmother, Pearl Lawson, mother, Patricia Lawson (Wallen), Aunt Joanne James, her father, James Wallen, and brothers Jim and Bruce Wallen.

In Lieu of flowers, the family ask that you donate to Uintah County, or Roosevelt Animal Shelters.

There will be a Celebration of the Great Big Life of Veronica Joy Lawson on Sunday, August 24th 3PM at the Gateway Saloon.