Evelyn Dawson Obituary

On May 27, 2009, EVELYN MAGRUDER DAWSON passed away. She lived a long, rich life, and was rightfully proud of all the lives she touched and transformed. Evelyn was born in Woodville, Mississippi to Caroline and Levin Magruder, M.D., but she grew up in New Orleans after her father, a pioneer in radiology, began practicing medicine at Baptist Hospital. There, she graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Sophia Newcomb College. In 1932, she married Tucker Edward Dawson, a gregarious, colorful man and a loving father and husband. The two were happily married until Tucker's death in 1988. Evelyn had a rich career in education. She started a private school, which eventually became Trinity Episcopal School in Baton Rouge. After moving to Houston, Texas with Tucker and their five children in 1955, she founded another private school, St. Mark's Episcopal School, where she served as Headmistress until her retirement in 1982. After her retirement from education, Evelyn derived great pleasure from working in her son Douglas' veterinary clinic and doting over her many grandchildren. Evelyn is preceded in death by her son Levin Dawson, Ph.D., an English Professor and writer, and her son-in-law Dave Marr. She is survived by her son, the Reverend Tucker Dawson, Jr. and his wife Margene and her grandson Tucker; her daughter Caroline Marr and her grandsons Wayne and Tucker Bunch and great-grandchildren Jake, Walker, Lilly, and Kate; Levin's sons Jordan and Walter and her great-grandson Dean; her daughter Rebecca Cubberly and Rebecca's husband Walter, and her grandchildren Walt, Evelyn, Douglas, and Caroline; and her son Douglas and his wife Beth and her grandsons Doug, Ben, and Roy. Evelyn will always be remembered as a magnificently elegant and intelligent woman. She raised five successful children and was a nurturing, caring grandmother and teacher. Hers was a good life. Services will be held at ten o'clock on Wednesday June 17th at Saint Mark's Episcopal Church, 3816 Bellaire Boulevard. In lieu of flowers, Evelyn would be honored by any donations made to Saint Mark's Episcopal School Library, Business Office, 3816 Bellaire Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77025.