He was a month short of turning 67.

An ex-pat, Ross was born in Wauchope, the second son for Rena and Scorp Lawson of Glen Inch, adjacent to Bain Bridge.

A great-grandson of Alexander Bain, who along with his better known brother, Duncan, pioneered the Wauchope dairying industry, Ross was educated  in the public schools here. He was a prominent basketballer at High School and a former premiership junior for Wauchope Blues.

He joined the NSW Police Cadets at age 16 and went on to serve the State Police in a career which spanned almost 40 years. At retirement he had reached the rank of Chief Inspector.

Ross served in both plain clothes and uniform during his career as a member of a varied number of Divisions and Commands. This included some years as a tutor at the Goulburn Academy detective school and officer in charge of the Riverina Command plain clothes squad of 15 detectives.

At the time of his passing, due to stroke, he was residing in Darwin, where his wife, Ingrid is Director of Staff at Darwin Private Hospital, and working inprivate investigation in the insurance industry.

Ross is survived by Ingrid, sons Ross and Stephen from his first marriage, his third son, Richard, a Naval officer attached to HMAS Parramatta, and daughter Marnie, a NSW police officer at Musswelbrook. 

His brothers are Ian Lawson (Maryland) and Paul Jones (Wauchope) Another brother, Tom predeceased him.

A funeral service was conducted at the Uniting Church on August 9 where NSW Police, in full uniform, mounted a Guard of Honour

Internment followed at Comboyne cemetery.