Joan Marie Dawson

DOVER - Joan Marie Dawson, 91 of Dover, Pennsylvania, passed away on September 22, 2026.

She was born in York, PA June 20, 1935, and the daughter of the late Lora Bell Shaw and Elmer Shaw. Joan graduated from William Penn Senior High, York, PA., class of 1953 and chose to go directly into her career as a punch card operator for Caterpillar, Inc.

In 1960, Joan married Jack E. Dawson and started a family on a small farm in Dover, PA. Being a city girl until then, she often recalled how scared she was that first night having no curtains and no street lights. "The things you do for love", she'd say and then laugh.

A fanatic about reading, Joan was a member of the Clio Literary Society in high school, and later a volunteer at the Dover Library. It was not uncommon to see the lights on in her front room late at night as she would lose track of time reading her latest great find.

If a book wasn't grabbing Joan's attention, a plant was. Both in-door and outdoor gardening was a passion of hers. She met many good and long time friends while serving many years on the board of the Dover Garden Club.

On Saturdays, come football season, Joan and her loyal side kick, Penny, her chocolate lab, could always be found cheering "her Penn State boys" on. It was a known rule, not to call or drop by while a football game was happening. Joan simply wasn't going to entertain you - she was busy.

As Joan got older she started to refer to herself as "Grammy Jo" and adopted many local residents as her "unofficial" children. Her door was always open to anyone that just needed someone to listen or a hug. She leaves behind a large group of the people she adored as close friends, including her faithful Diamond Girls group that were always by her side through thick and thin.

Joan is survived by her daughter, Janice Dawson, son Jeff Dawson, and daughter-in-law, Tammi Dawson, all residing in Dover, PA, as well as her older sister, LouAnn Taylor of Crystal Springs, MS.

Grandchildren: Lexy Shultz and husband Joshua Shultz, Marysville, PA; Dylan Dawson, Dover, PA; Savanah Dawson, Dover, PA; and Brittanie Sterner, Philadelphia, PA.

Joan has requested that there be no funeral service. In the spring of 2027 a Celebration of Life party will be hosted by her children.