Louise Dawson

Lou was born in Blackburn, Oklahoma on February 21, 1916 to Ray and Trilby Loper. She graduated from Cleveland High School and Tulsa Business College. Her business career included several years with Baroid in Tulsa and Los Angeles and The Western Company in Midland.

Lou was active in several Midland organizations, holding leadership roles in most: First Presbyterian Church, Sam Houston PTA, Rake and Spade Garden Club, Midland Country Club Ladies Association, her “Lunch Bunch”, Geological and Geophysical Auxiliary, MRS Investment Club (Mink or Sink), and Girl Scouts.

She married L. Decker Dawson on December 23, 1950 and is survived by him, and their daughter Mary of Denver, CO. She is also survived by her sister Maxine Dawson and her husband Arden H. Dawson Jr. (No Relation) of Texhoma, OK; nephew Arden H. Dawson III of Sunray, TX, and her niece Beverly Harris of Amarillo, TX and by their children and grandchildren. Her brothers, Raymond who lived in Midland the late 1950’s, and Fremont are deceased.

Memorial service will be at 4:00pm on Thursday, March 24, 2011 at First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Steve Schorr officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Ellis Funeral Home. Condolences may be offered online at www.ellisfunerals.com.

The family would like to express gratitude for the loving care provided by Dr. Gregory Bartha, and Maria Guadalupe Aldama, and caregivers Karen Still, Faye Armstrong, Yvonne Pulchtopek, Susan Lee, Delores Clay, and Latoya Perkins.

Her diminutive stature created the name “Shorty” somewhere in mid-life. Her initial reaction to the name was understandably negative. She was heard to have said “calling me Shorty is like calling Alva Butler (banker John Butler’s wife) Slim!” When her own husband and daughter began using the name Shorty, she reluctantly accepted her new handle.