Betty L. Dawson

© The Stilwell Democrat Journal

December 24, 2008

Submitted by: Martha Real

Betty L. Dawson
September 9, 1946-December 22, 2008

MRS. Betty L. Dawson, 62 year old Vinita resident, passed away Monday evening at Saint Francis Hospital.

Mrs. Dawson was born in Stilwell, Oklahoma on September 9, 1946. She was a graduate of Stilwell High School and was married to Jim Dawson on May 1, 1964. They were able to celebrate 43 years together until his passing last year, but are now reunited.
She developed a deep appreciation for education while attending a one-room schoolhouse in the community of Chalk Bluff. She earned her Masters Degree of Education from Northeastern State University and became a teacher. She was passionate about her profession for many years in both Stilwell and Vinita. She was selected as Vinita Public School 1999 Teacher of the Year. She remained a teacher of life lessons to all who knew her until her passing.
Upon retirement, she received her real estate license and was employed at Reynolds & Associates Real Estate. She stayed very active until her life was interrupted by a serious illness. She truly believed that God, family and friends were her sustaining factors.

Mrs. Dawson was preceded in death by her husband, Jim, her parents, Walt and Juanita Curtis, and her sister, Mary Morton.

The family of Mrs. Betty Dawson includes three children: Leslie Janis and her husband Dan of Vinita, Carol Allen and her husband Roger of Dallas and Cameron Dawson and his wife Tina of Oklahoma City. There are three grandchildren: Elizabeth, Cash, and Drew Allensworth of Vinita. She has two surviving sisters: Shirley Ferguson and her husband Gaylon of Tulsa and Peggy Rains and her husband Ken of Pryor. There are many other beloved relatives and dear friends

Visitation will be available Wednesday, December 24th at Luginbuel Funeral Home in Vinita. The funeral services for Mrs. Dawson are on Friday December 26th at 10:00 a.m. in the First Methodist Church with Rev. Bob Johns, pastor of the First Methodist Church, officiating. Interment will take place at 3:00 p.m. in the Stilwell Cemetery with Scott Hill, pastor of Lakeside Baptist Church in Rogers, AR, officiating.

The funeral arrangements in Vinita are by Luginbuel Funeral Home of Vinita and condolences may be sent to www.honoringmemories.com. Interment arrangements in Stilwell are by Hart Funeral Home. Mrs. Dawson requested that any contributions be made to Vinita First Methodist Church Memorial Fund or Vinita Education Foundation.