Joan Bush Stevenson

Joan Bush Stevenson passed away peacefully on August 22nd at the age of 92. The oldest of two daughters of J. E. Bush and Gladys Bandy Bush Cole, Joan was a lifelong resident of Dallas, graduating from Highland Park High School in 1948 and SMU in 1952. While at SMU, Joan served as president of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and graduated Phi Beta Kappa. Afterwards, Joan was presented as an Idlewild debutante. In 1954 Joan married her one love, James Donald Stevenson, who predeceased her in 2002. Always actively involved in her community, Joan was a member of The Junior League of Dallas, the Marianne Scruggs Garden Club and the Dallas Woman’s Club. She taught at Dallas Country Day School. She was a member of Northway Christian Church since its founding where she taught scripture classes for both children and adults. Her most enduring influence was through service as a wife, mother, and matriarch to an extended family which she led by quiet example and by unconditional acceptance and love. In addition to her family, she was blessed with lifelong friends, many of whom she first met at University Park Elementary School. No one, family or friend, who needed her help, was turned away. She had a tireless devotion to visiting the sick.

Joan is survived by her sister, Sara Bush Miles of New York City, her children, James Donald (Don) Stevenson, Jr. and his wife Jamie of Dallas, Sara Ann Stevenson and her husband Richard Queen of Austin, and Paul Bush Stevenson and his wife Kimberly of Dallas and her grandchildren, Kathryn Leonora Miller and her husband Ian, John Packer Stevenson and his wife Anna, Caroline Queen and her husband Travis Devitt, Mary Joan Stevenson, Jack Armistead Queen, Sam Bush Stevenson, Anna Teresa Stevenson, Timothy Humphries and his wife Meghan, and Macullen Nadurak, along with seven great grandchildren, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Donations in her memory may be made to Northway Christian Church, 7202 W. Northwest Highway, Dallas, Texas 75225, or to a charity of your choice. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 7th at Northway Christian Church.