She was a graduate of Immanuel Lutheran School and Bethany Lutheran College. She also attended Mankato State University. Her father, a 30-year member of the Minnesota Legislature, was the owner-publisher of the weekly Mankato News. where she honed her early journalistic and political interests as editor-columnist, advertising sales and all-around employee.
Following art, theatre and journalism stints in New York, DeKalb, Illinois, and Takoma, Washington, she came to Dallas in 1959 where she became fashion editor for the Dallas Fashion Manufacturers publication. In 1960, she joined the Dallas Times Herald as Society Editor and Columnist. Her “Imm-Prints” column, headline and feature writing won numerous awards from Associated Press, United Press, Dallas Press Club and garnered the only award ever given for Society coverage from the Southwest Journalism Forum and SMU. In 1971, she was named a “Distinguished Woman” by Northwood University, Midland ,Michigan, and in 2016 a “Distinguished Alumna” of Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato, Minnesota.
During her decade-long tenure at the Herald, she covered not only historical events, i.e. the Kennedy Assassination, the Adlai Stevenson “hit-with-a-placard” appearance; but also a plethora of celebrities and events in Europe and the Middle East. Her favorite political-social coverage over the decade was the 1964 Republican Convention in San Francisco and her favorite award winning print series told the story of the abused, abandoned children of Dallas County. Her favorite business story was covering the British Petroleum Hunt Oil Pipeline in Libya, North Africa.
In 1969 she married the late Louis Griffith James, then president of Lone Star Gas Co., who died in 1974. In 1979, she married the late Dr. Fouad A. Bashour who died in 2003. She and Dr. Bashour were devoted, low-profile philanthropists with a major emphasis on medicine and education at UT Southwestern Medical School, where Dr. Bashour was a 50-year Ashbel Smith professor and cardiologist until his death.
Her civic affiliations included the Dallas Woman’s Club, the Marianne Scruggs Garden Club, Crystal Charity Ball Committee, Dallas Arboretum, Heritage Club, and Park City Club. She was a charter member of TACA, Charter 100 and founder of Sauci (now defunct) supporting abused, abandoned children. She was also a former board member of Happy Hill Farm and Children’s Academy in Granbury, Texas.
She is predeceased by her parents, her husbands, two brothers, three sisters and a host of friends.
She is survived by nieces Barbara Berry, Ann Berry Hodapp (Rusty), Susan Imm Steber (Brendan), Kim Hopkins Chandler (Ray), nephews Bob Berry (Kelli), Andrew Imm (Samantha), David Imm (Lisa), sister-in-law Janelle Stoll Imm, great-nephews Martin, Luke and Cole Berry; Sam, Aaron and Nathan Hodapp; Matthew Berry and three great-great nieces and two great-great nephews.
A 45-year member of Believers Chapel and a devout follower of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ. Visitation and Funeral Service will take place Friday, May 13, 2022. at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home at 10:00 am, with reception to follow.
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