Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

Login | Contact Us | Site Map | Paid archives | Alerts | Electronic edition | Advertise | Subscribe to the paper | Today's Extras

Breaking News:

Subscribe

PARKER: Hair stylist loses fight for his life

By Penny Parker, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 18, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

Text size  
Hair sytlist Bill Lawson

Hair sytlist Bill Lawson

More News Columns & Blogs

More stories »

Bill Lawson sometimes spelled his name Byl "just to be different," his life partner, James Mucker, said Monday.

Lawson, a hair stylist with Paul Garcia's salon in Cherry Creek North for more than 16 years, died of cancer Friday. He was 42.

His cancer battle started in July when Mucker, a stylist at Salon Utopia, discovered a lump on Lawson's neck. "We went and got it checked, and they checked him into the hospital."

Doctors discovered an additional lump under his arm. Biopsy results found lymphoma. Lawson was hospitalized for three weeks during treatment. "He made it through three chemotherapies successfully," Mucker said. "But he got an infection in his eye. They were trying to get the infection controlled, but in the meantime the white blood cell count went down. The infection took over and spread the cancer."

Lawson, who was my hairdresser for years, died in Denver Hospice care surrounded by his mother, three sisters and Mucker, his partner of 18 years. The public is invited to a memorial service at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Pipkin Mortuary, 2531 Ogden St. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to Mucker at 4801 E. Ninth Ave., Suite 210, Denver, 80220, to help with medical expenses.

Lawson is survived by his mother, Patricia Lawson, and sisters Virginia Humphries, of Albuquerque, Evelyn Bothwell, of Odessa, Texas, and Sherry Alkulaifi, of Qatar.

Mucker said it was poetic that Lawson died on a snowy day. "He always loved the snow, and it snowed for him on Friday."

What I'll remember most about Byl was his gentleness, kindness and wicked sense of humor. "He always had his jokes," Mucker said, laughing. I will miss him.

DOUBLE THE FUN: Greeley-born babes, identical twins and UNC seniors Natalie Jo and Jennifer Campbell are December's Playmates of the Month in the Playboy issue that hit the stands Friday. Their video at playboy.com says they're 22 with measurements 34, 24, 34. They both weigh 115, but Jennifer, at 5-foot-8, is one inch taller than her sister.

Natalie wants to be a veterinarian's assistant; Jennifer, a physician's assistant. Jennifer is "turned on by a man in uniform," and each say their idea of a romantic evening would be to spend the night "in a secluded cabin with nothing to do but stay in bed."

Their MySpace page (my- space.com/thecampbelltwins) lists their likes: Music? "We love just about anything!" TV? "America's Next Top Model, Nip/Tuck, Entourage, Family Guy." Books? "We don't have time to read." Heroes? "Our parents, family, friends, loved ones and Hugh Hefner."

EAVESDROPPING on two women looking at a teenie-weenie dress in a display window at the Tabor Center: "Who on Earth is that size? I have Barbie Dolls bigger than that!"

Penny Parker's column appears Tuesday through Saturday.

Post your comment

Registration is required. Click here to create your free user account, or login below.

Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.




(Forgotten your password?)




News Tip

Know about something we should be reporting? Tell us about it.

Sponsored links



Reprints