JoAnn’s Obituary Betty JoAnn Thorson Dimmick, called JoAnn, died on Friday, February 01, 2019 in a local hospital. Born January 20, 1930, at La Crosse, Wisconsin, she was the second child of Alvian Reynard Thorson and his wife Beatrice Anna “Babe” Houska. Most of her childhood was spent in Glen Rock, New Jersey, where she enjoyed being a Girl Scout.
Her family moved to Lake Charles in July, 1944, following her father’s transfer to the brand-new high octane gas refinery of the Cities Service Refining Corp. In 1947, JoAnn graduated from Lake Charles High School, having been a Kiltie there. She earned a BA degree from LSU in 1951, majoring in both math and music.
While at LSU, she was a member of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women, and was initiated into Pi Mu Epsilon and Sigma Alpha Iota honorary fraternities. Following graduation, she worked in the New York office of New York Life Insurance Company until returning to Lake Charles in 1954. She married James W. “Bill” Dimmick May 14, 1955.
Until the 1963 birth of her first child she worked at Knapp and East Construction, Pauley Real Estate, Associated General Contractors, and Dimmick Supply Company. Other interests included AAUW, Lyceum Great Books Study Club, and Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Club. She served as a Camp Fire Girls leader, as a member of the Gulf States Utilities Consumer panel, the membership committee of the Community Concert Association, and for 15 years on the Salvation Army Advisory Board.
First United Methodist Church was the cornerstone of JoAnn’s life after her marriage. Over the years she served the church in many ways, especially as a member of the United Methodist Women, whose craft fair she ran for 19 years. With her husband she belonged to the Builders Sunday School class.
They both helped at Abraham’s Tent for a few years at its inception. Leisure activities with family and friends included playing bridge, traveling, and spending time at their fishing camps at Toledo Bend and later at Grand Chenier. JoAnn is survived by her son, Robert Byron Dimmick of Boston, Massachusetts; her daughter, Laura Catherine Dimmick Tyler and her husband Anthony Edmond Tyler, of Mandeville, Louisiana; three grandchildren – Stephen Eric Tyler of Marietta, Georgia; Evan Andrew Tyler and his wife Taylor Novak Tyler of Lake Charles; and Megan Elizabeth Tyler of Mandeville; her brother-in-law Thomas Evans Dimmick of Hemphill, Texas; her first cousin Richard Evans of St. Paul, Minnesota; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her only sibling William Walter Thorson, and her husband of almost 62 years James Willis “Bill” Dimmick. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Monday, February 4, 2019 at First United Methodist Church, under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Reverend Weldon Bares will officiate.
Private interment will be at Prien Memorial Park at a later date. Visitation will be at the church on Monday from 10:00 AM until the start of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First United Methodist Church, 812 Kirkman Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601; to the Smile Train, P.O. Box 96231, Washington, DC 20090-6321; or to the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 17166, Lake Charles, LA 70616-7166.
The family would like to express their grateful appreciation to Rev. Weldon Bares and Andrea Nichols.
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