Joan Carol (Jackson) Severin

Joan Carol Jackson Severin was born in Brownwood, TX, on August 22, 1933, at her grandmother’s house, to Enoch Wilson (Jack) and Ozella Rae Jackson. Her mother was with family while her father found them a place to live in Houston where he had been transferred with his work for Western Union. One of her aunts was a midwife, so all went well. They got to Houston and were still there when her brother Donald Jackson was born 5 years later. The family moved to Tulsa, OK where Mom said Indian Territory started at the end of their street. She had several bad cases of tonsillitis, but felt better when given a handmade doll from a Native American.

When Mom was in junior high, they moved to Dallas living in two rental houses before settling in the house her father helped design in 1948. She went to North Dallas High School first ,then graduated from Hillcrest High School in 1951. She went to SMU, joined Delta Zeta sorority and earned a BA in art. She started going to Highland Park Presbyterian Church while at SMU, met John Severin in the Timothy class, married in 1958 and eventually had 3 daughters. Joan worked a short time doing art for an advertising firm, then taught elementary school art. She wanted the kids to try their hardest in art and got in trouble with parents when their children received bad grades in art. She MUCH preferred her own children to draw, not just color in coloring books. She loved modern styles in architecture and furniture and impressionistic art. She was very into the golds and rusts of the 60s and 70s.

Joan loved keeping in touch with friends and family - friends from high school on. She loved talking about her carefree time in college going to class and dances. She had so many scrapbooks of pictures with some new boy and a new style of dress at the sorority parties. Her granddaughters especially liked looking at these pictures. Too bad she finally got rid of those dresses! Several of her friends still lived in Dallas. She loved talking on the phone with them. It seemed like that was what she did all day to her daughters while they were at school. Of course, the house was always spic-n-span clean. Then there were all the relatives all over Texas and farther away. She told stories of going by train to Toledo, Ohio, to visit an aunt then continuing on to New York City with friends. Many family vacations were to visit great-aunts and uncles and her brother when he was away from Texas. Of course, she was glad when her brother finally moved back home, even if it was Fort Worth. She really thought family should live close by and has been lucky in that. Her two older daughters went to the beach over Spring break in college and were required to stop by in Ingleside to visit one of those great-aunts. We weren’t sure of the directions, but mom had told us to just stop and ask if we got lost. She meant to ask anyone on the street. Her city daughters could not imagine.

Joan loved animals. They had Cocker Spaniels growing up. We almost always had a cat and had two different dogs. One of those dogs she just brought home from someone with puppies at the garden center. Sounds like she didn’t even ask first! Her daughters and grandchildren continue the tradition with 3 dogs and 3 cats between them all.

As much as Joan enjoyed family close by, she loved to travel. Early on, the family took vacations in the station wagon all over the country. Oftentimes in the summer, we went to New Mexico or Colorado “to get away from the Dallas heat.” If we went farther to visit a relative, there were always interesting stops on the way. Later on, Joan and John traveled all over the world on their own and on group tours. They really enjoyed the Elderhostel tours they did combining travel and education. She also worked with the SMU international students through her church combining travel and getting to know people.

Joan will be missed by family, friends and dear caregivers. Joan’s rock for 63 years, John, passed away in March of this year. That changed her world. After more dementia problems, stroke and heart failure, Joan joined John in heaven. She is survived by her brother Don and Joanne Jackson, daughters Valerie and Guy Finley, Sandra and John Hurlbert, Leigh and Claudio Galimberti and grandchildren Alex and Madelyn Finley, Shannon and Andre Mardian, Corinne Hurlbert, Meredyth Hurlbert, Natalie Hurlbert, Franklin Galimberti and Gwyneth Galimberti, plus numerous nieces and nephews. Thanks to her caregiver Lakeisha this past year and the activities director Fatuma, the hospice nurse Kamie and staff at Walnut Place. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to The Antioch Partners (https://www.theantiochpartners.org/ ), North Texas Food Bank (https://ntfb.org) or American Stroke Association (https://www.stroke.org/) .

There will be a time with family and viewing at Sparkman Hillcrest Funeral Home from 4 to 6pm on Dec 9th. A celebration of life at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home Chapel at 3pm on Dec 10th.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Sparkman-Hillcrest.com for the Severin family.