Joan Elizabeth Stevenson

of Plano, TX passed away on Friday, September 4, 2009 at the age of 63. She was born October 22, 1945 in Alexandria, Virginia to Elizabeth Jane Flannigan and Hanford T. Colwell.

Joan grew up all over the world – her Father was an Army officer. She lived in Appleton, Wisconsin; Heidelberg, Germany; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Saigon, Vietnam; Ft. Huachuca Arizona; Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas; Paris, France where she graduated from high school and Lawrence, Kansas where she graduated from Kansas University.

While at KU, where she majored in Music Education, she met Rick, her husband of 43 years and they had their first daughter, Beth. They moved to Overland Park, Kansas where Rick was employed by Bendix Corp. and Joan was a full-time Mom to Beth and their second daughter Becky. While living there, Joan began her career in the insurance industry with R.B. Jones.

In 1978 Joan and Rick and the girls moved to St. Louis where Rick worked for McDonnell Douglas and Joan worked for Alexander and Alexander Insurance. During their years in St. Louis, Joan and Rick traveled extensively across the United States participating in sailing regattas and helping to operate the regional organizations of the US Sailing Association. In 1984 they helped judge the sailing events in the Los Angeles Olympic Games. Joan was also an active volunteer for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, helping with fund raising activities and youth programs. She also began teaching herself to quilt.

In 1996 Rick transferred to Texas with McDonnell Douglas. They took up residence in Plano where Joan continued her volunteer work with the St. Louis Symphony from afar up until 2005, while also becoming involved with other charitable organizations such as Canine Companions for Independence. She and her sister Trish formed a small business, TJ Designs, for which Joan was the creative force and business manager.

Joan was very active in the Quilters’ Guild of Dallas, edited the newsletter and held several offices in the Plano Guild, and was a founding member of the Frisco Guild. She served as a Committee Chair for 3 Plano Quilt Shows and as Co-Chair of the 2005 Show. During her years in Plano, Joan steadily increased her quilting skills, becoming a Master Quilter in 2008. Her quilts were exhibited in many prestigious quilt shows around the country where she won numerous awards.

Mrs. Stevenson is survived by her loving husband of 43 years, Richard L. Stevenson; two daughters: Elizabeth Marie McDaniel & husband James of Seattle, WA and Rebecca Ann Stevenson of Riverside, CA; one sister, Trish Gailey of Bullard, TX; one niece, Amy; five nephews: Michael, Jeffery, Taylor, Alex & Mark as well as a host of friends.