Michael Ray Lawson, 49 of Maryville, TN suddenly and unexpectedly passed away January 4, 2022.  He was an avid Boy Scout and earned the Eagle Scout Award at the young age of 12 years old.  The Eagle Scout award is the highest award given in the Boy Scouts of America.  His service project for this award was painting the Little River Railroad Museum in Townsend, TN.  He was a graduate of William Blount High School and graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Economics.  He then served in the United States Marines.  Michael was a "jack of all trades".  He could fix anything from cars and jeeps to computers.  He had an adventurous spirit which led him to move and live a more than ordinary lifestyle.  He once lived on a sailboat in the Florida Keys, where he was a scuba diving instructor.  He was traveling to the "Dakotas" to work on the pipeline when his car caught fire, he then headed home carrying as many belongings as he could.  He started first by walking, then he bought a bicycle from a man riding alongside the road.  He then made his way to the train station, then the airport, before finally arriving back home in Maryville.  Another courageous idea was to head to California with nothing but a small motorcycle and only what he could carry, but ended up back home in Maryville.  Michael was honest, to the point, caring, funny, and dependable.  He was always laughing and loved to pull a prank on the next unsuspecting victim.  He enjoyed the great outdoors, photography, skydiving, and singing karaoke, he sang like a mockingbird.  Michael was preceded in death by his daddy Clyde Ray Lawson, grandparents Ernest and Flossie Pressley, Suzie and Luther Steadman and Ray W. and Grace Lawson.  Michael is survived by his mother Shirley Lawson, sister and brother-in-law Martha and Eugene Mitchell, sister and brother-in-law Shannon and Eric Hubbard.  Niece and husband Amanda and Jerry Knight, niece and husband Avonlea and Neil Holtzclaw, and Niece Kalyssa Hubbard.  Great niece Maddie Kate Holtzclaw, and great nephews Colton Holtzclaw, and Hunter Knight.  Funeral service will be held at 5:00 PM Sunday, January 9, 2022, at Miller Funeral Home Magnolia Chapel, Rev. Delbert Raines officiating.  Interment will be held at 3:00 PM Monday at Sherwood Memorial Gardens.  The family will receive friends from 3:00 PM until 5:00 PM Sunday at Miller Funeral Home, Maryville.