Gary Edward Lawyer was born on December 22, 1947, in Seattle, Washington. He later moved to Colorado after studying in Arizona and completing his legal education. During his second and third years of law school, he interned with a Colorado law firm, an experience that led him to settle in the state after graduation.
Lawyer attended Northern Arizona University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. He then studied at the University of Arizona College of Law and received a Juris Doctor degree in 1974. His legal education was followed by admission to the Colorado bar in 1974 and a professional career concentrated on prosecution, domestic relations, family law and child-support collection.
Lawyer was admitted to the Colorado bar in 1974. He served in the El Paso County District Attorney's Office from 1977 through 1984, working as a prosecutor. From 1985 through 1990, he served as a family-law referee for the El Paso County District Court and as a domestic-law magistrate in Colorado's Fourth Judicial District. He subsequently practiced privately in Colorado Springs for approximately 20 years, specializing in domestic-relations law and child-support collection. His professional work included representation of pro bono clients, for which he was honored by the Colorado Springs Legal Aid Society. He also contributed to public legal education through the El Paso County Bar Association's Law Day programs and its weekly Ask a Lawyer call-in program.
Lawyer was a member of the El Paso County Bar Association and the Colorado Bar Association. He was a long-time participant in El Paso County Bar Association programs, including Law Day activities and the weekly Ask a Lawyer call-in program.
Lawyer enjoyed fly fishing in Colorado's rivers, riding his Honda motorcycle through the mountains, flying as a private pilot, reading thrillers, mysteries and nonfiction, and attending theater and movies. He also maintained season tickets for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox and the Colorado Rockies.
Baseball, including the Colorado Rockies and the Colorado Springs Sky Sox.
He enjoyed the Beatles, classical music, film scores, the works of Andrew Lloyd Webber, and songs by John Denver and Neil Diamond. He began playing piano as an adult and became an accomplished musician.
Lawyer's family included his son Christopher Lawyer, his sister Patricia Davis and his nephew Patrick Richards. He was also supported by an extended circle of friends, colleagues, caregivers and long-time associates in Colorado Springs and elsewhere.
