Andrea Maureen Cole Lawson passed away peacefully on Feb. 24 in Bethesda, Md. with her loving husband Bill and her parents, Kevin and and Bonnie at her side. She fought a short but courageous battle against cancer. Andrea went to Barnet school for her early years of education then graduated from St. Johnsbury Academy in 2001. Andrea was a member of the National Honor Society and truly loved to learn. One of her passions was the study of the Japanese language and culture. Andrea then went on to college at St. Michael's in Winooski, Vt. where she studied political science and continued her study of Japanese. In her junior year of college she did a semester abroad in Tokyo, Japan. After graduating from St. Mike's with high honors the once seemingly timid Andrea moved to Japan to teach English to Japanese students for two years. It was in Japan that she not only found herself but her loving husband Bill. She returned to the states where she earned a law degree at Catholic University in Washington D.C. While studying law at CUA Andrea was on the prestigious VIS Arbitration Moot Team. Andrea proved to be a top rated arbitrator as she led her team to many victories as they competed against other law schools throughout the world. Andrea also worked for the State Department under Hillary Clinton for a year and a half. She then went on to pass the bar and take a job with a small law firm in Washington D.C. On Oct. 9, 2011 Andrea married the love of her life, Bill Lawson. Bill is a teacher at Bethesda Elementary School in Maryland where the couple resided. When their son Lance William was born on June 17, 2014 Andrea gave up her career in law to give him a healthy and happy start to his life. Andrea was a loving wife and mother and for reasons we will never be able to understand her life was cut short in her prime. Andrea leaves behind her husband, Bill Lawson, her son Lance, her loving brother Ben Cole and his partner, Carrie Bunnell and her parents Kevin Cole and Bonnie Bashaw Cole. Aside from the immediate family Andrea has several aunts, uncles and cousins, as well as her paternal grandfather John Cole of Massachusetts and her maternal grandmother, Audrey Bashaw of Vermont. Andrea was loved by all the people she ever touched so there are so many friends who will miss her. There will be a reception on Saturday, March 7 from 2 to 4 p.m. to honor Andrea. It will be held at 49 Perkins St. St. Johnsbury, Vt. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Andrea's Army on gofundme.com.