Joan Crawford Picou

Lovely Joan Crawford Henry Picou entered paradise on September 2, 2013 after losing her short battle with cancer. She was born on November 27, 1932 in Sherman, Texas to James Norvel (J.N.) and Catherine Pierce Henry. Joan attended Texas State School for the Deaf in Austin, Texas and later attended business school in Sherman. In 1951, Joan met and fell in love with Herbert Picou of Maurepas, Louisiana who attended Louisiana State School for the Deaf. It was love at first sight. Herbert was playing basketball for his Baton Rouge team in the Southwest Athletic Association of the Deaf Tournament at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas. Joan was there as a spectator. They met and were inseparable for the two day tournament. They parted ways when each had to return to their homes. Herbert wrote Joan a letter proposing marriage and she accepted. A month later, without her parent’s knowledge Joan returned to Dallas and Herbert returned by train from Louisiana. They met at the train station and walked hand-in-hand across the street to the Old Red Courthouse in downtown Dallas to obtain their marriage license. The county clerk discovered Herbert was a minor and needed his parents’ consent. Herbert talked the clerk out of the consent requirement arguing that he was from Louisiana and was of age according to Louisiana law. The clerk relented and issued their marriage license. They walked across the hall to the Justice of Peace’s office and married. They immediately headed to Louisiana to live. Herbert was 20 years old and Joan was 18. They resided in Rayne, Louisiana where he was employed as a printer before moving to Texas in 1951. They celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary on April 14, 2013. We will miss Joan who was also known as our darling lady of the Deaf community whom everyone called “Mother Joan.” She was a natural-born charmer and encourager, a friend and a role model to many. She valued acceptance of others and had an unfailing love and loyalty to her family and friends. Her motto was “Keep the Deaf Community Going Strong…and Yourself.” Joan was chair lady of the most successful National Deaf Women’s Bowling Association Tournament in Dallas, in 1980. She has been a life-long member of the Dallas Association of the Deaf (DAD) since 1973. DAD awarded her a life-time membership for her devotion, volunteer work and support. She participated in numerous social activities within Deaf organizations. She was a charter member of the Dal-Tar Deaf Lioness Club. From 1978-1980, she was a TV hostess for “Sign of Times” on Channel 13. She was a member of the North Texas Deaf Senior Citizens, created in 2008. She was in the leadership of the Tejas Deaf Senior Citizens Club under the banner of Dallas Association of the Deaf. She retired from the Liberty Mutual Insurance after 22 years of service. Joan is preceded in death by her parents, James Norvel (J.N.) Henry and Catherine Pierce Henry. Joan is survived by her husband Herbert Picou; a son, James Henry Picou of Dallas; a daughter, Linda Catherine King and her husband, George of Cross Roads; and a daughter, Lizabeth Ann Picou-Sansom and her husband Rolando of Denton; 6 grand-children; 13 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great grandchildren; her special Aunt Gloy Henry of Denison; several nieces, nephews, and cousins. In lieu of flowers, the Picou family has requested you make contributions to Dallas Community Center of the Deaf, 4215 Maple Ave., Dallas, Texas 75219 (a non-profit organization) in memory of Joan Picou. Visitation will be 2 p.m. Saturday, September 7, 2013 with a memorial service following at 3 p.m. the Grove Hill Funeral Home Chapel located at 3920 Samuell Blvd., Dallas, TX.