Joey Lee Lawler, age 71, of Foley, Alabama, passed away unexpectedly at his home on July 1, 2026, though it is believed he entered eternal rest on June 29. He was born on April 21, 1955, in Beloit, Wisconsin, the son of the late Adrian “Bud” Lawler and Alice (Woodland) Farrell. Their strength, humor, and resilience influenced him deeply.
Joe spent his childhood in Clinton, Wisconsin, and as a young boy, he accepted Jesus Christ, carrying a quiet but steady faith that guided him throughout his life.
He graduated from Clinton High School in the Class of 1973, where he quickly became known for his athletic talent, leadership, sharp mind, and larger‑than‑life personality. He served in the upper house of the student council, played varsity football beginning his sophomore year, and ultimately graduated as captain of the football team. He also played junior varsity and varsity basketball, was a proud member of the Letterman Club, and was crowned Homecoming King his senior year.
During his football career, Joe earned local recognition in the Clinton Topper newspaper on multiple occasions, where he was affectionately nicknamed “Mighty Mite Joe Lawler.” The paper highlighted his grit, speed, and determination on the field, including a memorable game where he carried the ball repeatedly, scored a crucial touchdown, and helped secure a nail‑biting victory with a last‑minute defensive stand. Those early years revealed the qualities that would define him forever: toughness, heart, and the ability to rise when it mattered most. The same grit he showed on the field became the backbone of how he approached every challenge that followed.
After high school, Joe worked at Clinton Packing Inc. in Wisconsin before moving to California, where he worked as a butcher for Eagle Foods. These early jobs demonstrated his work ethic and willingness to do whatever was needed to support his family and establish himself.
Joe built several varied and accomplished careers over his lifetime, each reflecting his drive, resourcefulness, and willingness to start fresh when life called for it. He began selling cars in Beloit, Wisconsin, working for Swede Clark, a well‑known pitch man who pioneered local television car commercials. Those early years introduced Joe to the fast‑paced world of automotive sales and gave him his first glimpse of the charisma and connection that would define his career.
His work in the automotive industry accelerated when he moved to California and joined Peter Epsteen Ltd. in Palm Springs, part of a dealership group famously connected to Rat Pack members like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. Joe thrived in that high‑energy environment, rising from sales into management, and after gaining experience and confidence in Epsteen’s organization, he went on to co‑own and operate Diamond Auto Sales in Indio.
After his years at Diamond Auto Sales, Joe joined Team Chevrolet, where he stepped into the General Manager’s role during the manager’s absence and, through his charisma, confidence, and results, proved he was the right person for the job. He went on to serve in senior roles at Simon Cadillac, Buick, Pontiac, and GMC, and later at Riverside Chevrolet in Riverside, California, where he directed the dealership’s high‑volume used car division and earned industry recognition for his performance and leadership.
Throughout his automotive career, Joe led by example, not just from the sales desk, but on the sales floor. He was bold, funny, and unfiltered in the best way, using humor to motivate and blunt truth to guide, always from a place of genuine care. He had a way of making customers feel like old friends, and he hand-wrote a letter on every anniversary of a customer’s purchase, a gesture that reflected both his gratitude and his personal touch. These qualities made him not only a successful leader, but a memorable one.
During these years, Joe was also a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, embracing the organization’s “people helping people” spirit and the camaraderie it offered. Across his 25 years in the automotive world, he built a reputation for integrity, humor, and excellence; excelling in every role he took on and leaving a lasting impact on the dealerships and people he worked with.
After his success in the automotive industry, Joe embraced a new chapter, becoming a driver then driving instructor for Schneider National, moving from California to Gastonia, North Carolina in 2005 to teach new drivers with his trademark mix of wisdom, generosity, and uncensored honesty. After several years of instructing, and even some spirited repo work, he returned to full‑time driving, later joining Harris Teeter, where he continued to earn yearly safety and performance awards until his retirement in 2019. This progression from instructor back to professional driver created a natural bridge to his final years in the field, where his consistency and skill were recognized time and again.
During his years in North Carolina, Joe formed several lasting friendships within the trucking industry; bonds built on loyalty, laughter, and the kind of trust that grows from long miles and shared experience. He spent his early retirement years traveling across America, spending significant time in Sierra Vista, Arizona, and Schertz, Texas, before making a new home along the Gulf Shores and settling in Foley, Alabama.
Joe lived for simple joys: the things that brought him excitement and connection with others. He loved fishing, camping, playing poker, and stock car racing, especially in his 1968 Ford Gran Torino or his cherished 1969 Camaro SS. He loved the energy of race days, the joy of storytelling, and the simple pleasure of making people laugh. He had a gift for turning strangers into friends and for finding humor in the everyday moments most people never even notice. Funny, stubborn, polished when the moment called for it, uncensored when honesty mattered, and loving always, Joe lived life with an authenticity that drew people to him. His storytelling, delivered with wit, detail, and perfect timing, was a signature part of who he was. He was also a thoughtful, curious man who loved to learn, and many never knew he was a remarkable writer, often crafting proverbs and poetry that reflected his keen mind and reflective nature. Joe’s faith, planted in childhood, remained a quiet compass for him. It shaped the way he approached people and challenges alike, with steadiness, humility, and heart. He met life’s challenges with a stubborn resilience that became one of his defining strengths.
Joe is survived by his children: Brent (Jessica), Davinia, and Alyssa; and by his grandchildren: Jon, Michael, Logan, Matthew, Kameron, Elijah, and Jersey. He loved his children and grandchildren with a depth that shaped not only his life but will forever leave an imprint on theirs. He showed his love in the way he listened, encouraged, turned every moment into a chance to teach, and always made space for laughter, even in hard moments.
He is also survived by his brother Randall “Randy” (Margie); his sister‑in‑law, Judith “Judy” A., widow of his brother, Ron; Susan “Sue” Tassier, former wife of his brother, Gary, and mother of Gary’s children; a half-brother, Brian Lawler, and his step-brothers Douglas (Lisa) and David (Cheryl) Farrell, and all of their families, including many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Adrian Lawler and Alice (Woodland) Farrell; his brother and sister in law, Gary and Judith “Judy” M. Lawler; his brother Ronald “Ron” Lawler; his step brothers Daniel Farrell, James Farrell, and Paul Farrell; and an infant step sister, Jane Farrell.
Joe shared a lifelong, enduring friendship with his first wife, Renie, whom he had known since his youth; a bond rooted in deep understanding, loyalty, and genuine affection that remained a meaningful constant in his life. He also maintained a warm, friendly relationship with his second wife, Sherry, connected by mutual respect and a playful, natural comfort in each other’s presence.
