JoAnn Bell Dawson died peacefully on the morning of March 8, 2014 and went home to be with the Lord.

Born JoAnn Bell Knutson on Jan. 3, 1931 in Pierpont South Dakota, JoAnn was the youngest of seven children.

In 1940 the family traveled west and settled in Ellensburg, Washington. Joann attended school in Ellensburg and sang alto in a group called the Triple Trio.

She met the love of her life, Bob Dawson while attending Ellensburg High School. JoAnn and Bob married on June 20, 1953 in Ellensburg. They made their home in Seattle where JoAnn graduated from Virginia Mason Nursing School.

They moved to Bainbridge Island in 1955 and raised their four children in the waterfront home on Agate Point that Bob and JoAnn built. JoAnn worked at Virginia Mason Winslow for 30 years and then retired.

JoAnn enjoyed gardening, playing the piano and traveling and was an avid reader. She was called JoJo by most of her family and close friends, and was a well loved member of the Winslow Clinic where she was also known as the “shot nurse” giving people their allergy, immunizations and travel shots.

JoAnn has many lifelong friends in the community and was well known for her quick wit!

JoAnn is survived by her loving husband Bob and their four children, Christine Danielsen, (husband Mark Danielsen), Alela Tallon (husband Pat Tallon), Brett Dawson (wife Barb Burns), and Pam Thresher, (husband Tom Thresher). She was also loved by eight grandchildren, Rob (Molly), Chris (Megan), Emery (Shannon), Erik, Heather, Annie, Luke and Melissa; three great-grandsons, Daniel, Isaiah, Jacob with another great-grandson due in May. JoAnn also had two loving surrogate daughters and caregivers; Pei Wang and Paula Van Gessel. In addition she is survived by one sister and many nieces and nephews.

JoAnn was raised a Lutheran and lived her faith by example. She will be sorely missed.

Her memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 12 at Bethany Lutheran Church on Bainbridge Island.