Roll Call Tribute

Joseph Lawrence Tabony 

September 30, 1937 - June 13, 2024 

Joseph Lawrence Tabony was born in Houston, Texas on September 30, 1937, and passed away peacefully surrounded by his family in Dallas, Texas on June 13, 2024.

Lawrence grew up in Houston until he attended Texas A&M University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1960. After graduation he moved to Brownsville, TX where he began his career as an architect. He worked in Denver and Colorado Springs before settling in Dallas, Texas in 1964 where he began working for Pratt Box Henderson. He worked with several other firms throughout his career, one giving him the opportunity to live in Sydney, Australia, and another in Atlanta, Georgia, but Dallas was his home. He continued working until a few months before he passed away on projects for David Shanks, wonderful friend and colleague, and assisting his grandson, Allen Scribner Jr, with plans for his new home. While he was married after his college graduation and had two children, Cheri Tabony Bowser and Denise Tabony Stephens, the relationship wasn’t permanent, and they parted ways. He married Ann Pinson Hodges in 1974 and they became a blended family with three additional children, Jack Hodges, Mike Hodges, and Jana Hodges Scribner. It was a real-life Brady Bunch. Lawrence and Ann celebrated their 50th wedding Anniversary on January 25, 2024.

Lawrence had a passion for music. He learned how to play the violin when he was very young, and while he enjoyed it, there were other interests he pursued. His younger brothers Charles and Doug also played the violin and had professional careers with the Houston and Austin Symphonies where he enjoyed listening to them perform. He and his wife, Ann, had seasons tickets to the Dallas Symphony for nearly 50 years. They would bring some of their children to performances, sitting in the balcony where they could stretch out and sometimes be lulled to sleep. His appreciation for music ran the gamut from classical to jazz and rock music. He had a fondness for Bach and even more so, Sergie Prokofiev. Peter and the Wolf and Romeo and Juliette were amongst his favorite compositions and ballets. Dave Brubeck was favorite jazz composer, and his favorite rock band was Chicago. He attended many of their concerts and had every one of their albums.

Lawrence loved nature, wildlife, and birds. He and his brothers were brought up to appreciate nature. His parents were very involved with the Houston Outdoor Nature Club, the Herpetology Club, the Houston Audubon, and the Garden Club of Houston. He would go with his dad on revegetation projects, planting grass, by Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge. Lawrence also assisted his dad with bird rescues when there were oils spills in the Gulf of Mexico. Birds would wash up on the beaches in Galveston with oil and tar in their feathers, and he helped clean the birds so they could be released back to the wild. He enjoyed adventures with his friend Steve Williams looking for herps and birds in the Middle Bayou, now known as the Armand Bayou. His father introduced him to Armand Yramategui, who was a friend of his parents, and frequent visitor at their home and the Houston Outdoor Nature Club. Armand became Lawrence’s nature and birding mentor from the time he was about 12 until he left for college, taking him on birding trips along the Upper Texas Coast, East Texas, and Mexico where he helped with Christmas Bird Counts. Armand’s influence was an integral part of Lawrence’s life. When Lawrence moved to Dallas in 1964, he became involved with the Dallas Audubon. He supported them and many other organizations, including the Armand Bayou Nature Center, in their efforts to conserve and protect birds, wildlife and their habitats. Lawrence also developed a lasting relationship with Wild Birds Unlimited, picking up birdseed and spending hours talking about birds with owner David Hurt and Steve Barr. Lawrence shared his love and appreciation of nature and birds with his family. and his children are passing this on to their children and grandchildren. His daughter, Denise, is an avid birder, volunteer, and supporter of conservation efforts for birds and their habits. His legacy will live on.

Lawrence loved art and architecture. His passion for nature is also found here. He was heavily influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright who is famous for his innovative ability to design buildings where the natural settings are preserved, celebrated, and become one with the building. Lawrence enjoyed visits to the Art Museums in Dallas, Fort Worth, and other places with Ann where they would spend the day and enjoy lunch in the museums’ cafés. Everywhere he and Ann traveled they went to museums, learning about other cultures and history. His home is filled with art from around the world. Some of his favorite pieces are from Australia, New Mexico, and artwork created by his wife.

Lawrence loved cars. He dreamed of being a race car driver when he was a young boy. He owned a 1961 Porsche and a 1968 Camaro. These vehicles were his pride and joy. He would drive down the frontage road of the highway going 100 mph and do donuts in the ice and snow in parking lots. He loved the feel of speed. His Camaro was totaled during the odd/even gas rationing days in the 1970’s, but he loved this vehicle so much he had it rebuilt and continued to drive it for at least another 10-15 years until he sold it and bought a Toyota. 

Lawrence was an avid A&M football fan and was a true 12th man, cheering them on to victory. He also watched the Dallas Cowboys, but his passion was baseball. The Texas Rangers were his team, and if they weren’t playing, he would watch other teams. He really enjoyed the sport. He played catcher on his high school baseball team and owned a baseball that was autographed by Yogi Berra, his favorite baseball player.

Lawrence enjoyed reading. He liked the feel and touch of a physical book in his hand or a newspaper. He liked books about art, history, science, birds, nature, and about places he wanted to visit. He wanted to continue learning and growing in knowledge each day. He subscribed to the Dallas Morning News for over 50 years and read it faithfully daily. The Sunday edition was something he always looked forward to because it had the large comic section which he called the funny papers. He would read them to his kids when they were little, and throughout the years would clip out comics and give them to someone he thought would appreciate them. He also clipped other articles from the newspaper and shared those too.

Lawrence and his family had many pets over the years. A Siamese cat Kim Kim, several stray cats that Jana and Denise would bring home and hide in the bathroom, Sissy a teacup poodle, Skemo an American Eskimo Husky, several birds including one that really took his heart, a Red-lored Amazon parrot named Choco. Choco would follow Lawrence everywhere, take showers with him, nuzzle him - they were buddies. Another favorite was Paddy, a Galah, his little pink girl, who Lawrence owned when he lived in Australia. But his heart and soul was devoted to Bricha, his Bichon Frise’. She was his joy. Everyone in the neighborhood knew her and loved her. They took walks every day, she slept with him, they watched TV together, and played with her toys. She would wait for him in the front window when he would leave and greet him excitedly when he returned. She was his constant companion and furry family member for 16 years.

Lawrence loved his family. He was there for his wife, supporting her interests and hobbies, loving her, and encouraging her in every endeavor and adventure throughout their lives. Together they raised five children, and while that came with great joy, challenges, a lot of laughter and a few tears along the way, they did it together and all five have grown up to be incredible women and men. Lawrence made a point of being there for as many life events and activities as he could for his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren - births, baptisms, school events, graduations, engagements, marriages, birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and many others. One thing he was exceptionally thankful for was attending every grandchild’s high school graduation. His children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were his joy and whenever he had the chance, he would share stories about each of them. He enjoyed spending time talking with them on the phone or sending a short message about something of interest, visiting with them when they came to the house or spending time with them at their homes, watching a nature show or baseball game together, getting coffee down the street, eating a meal together and watching the birds in the backyard. Spending time with his family meant everything to him.

Lawrence is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Henry Tabony and Ola Lee Stulting Tabony, his brothers Robert Henry Tabony, Douglas Edward Tabony. and his beloved dog Bricha. He is survived by his wife Ann Pinson Tabony, his brother Charles Francis Tabony and wife Peggy, his children Cheri Tabony Bowser, Denise Tabony Stephens and husband Robert, Jack Hodges and wife Stacy, Mike Hodges and wife Melanie, Jana Hodges Scribner and husband Allen Sr., his grandchildren Heather Belyea, Holly Belyea, Victoria Hodges, Claudia Hodges Hackethal, Marshall Hodges, Madeline Hodges, Alexa Scribner Walther, and Allen Scribner Jr., his great grandchildren Aaron Walther, Penelope Walther and Arthur Scribner.

A Memorial Service will be held at Cliff Temple Baptist Church – Main Sanctuary in Dallas, Texas on Saturday, July 27, 2024.