Shirley JoAnn (Dobson) Whitlatch

Shirley JoAnn (Dobson) Whitlatch, 87, of Fayetteville, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015 in Fayetteville at Willard Walker Hospice House. She was born Nov. 27, 1928, the daughter of Francis Joseph Dobson and Dorothy Humphrey Dobson. She was a teacher at Butterfield Elementary School for many years and a member of the Presbyterian Church. JoAnn was a graduate of the University of Tulsa with a degree in Fine Arts where, she was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority. After marrying her husband, Howard James Whitlatch, they moved to Fayetteville in 1954 where he was a professor in the Art Department of the University of Arkansas. Active in Girl Scouting, she was the first Director of the NOARK Girl Scout Camp. She as a member of the Retired Teachers Association, Daughter of the American Revolution, and a friend and loving mother. She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard James Whitlatch; sister, Jean Earl; son, James Dobson and a daughter, Jamie Leora (Whitlatch) Bailey (Rick). She is survived by a son, Joseph Howard Whitlatch (Debra) of Fayetteville; son-in-law, Rick Bailey; four grandchildren: Tracee Whittenburgh, Amanda George, Christian George, Angela (Whitlatch) West and five great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday at Nelson-Berna Funeral Home. Funeral service will be 2 p.m., Tuesday at the chapel of Nelson Berna Funeral Home. Burial will be 11 a.m., Friday, 1/8/2016 at Memorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa, Okla. by Nelson-Berna Funeral Home. Online condolences at www.nelsonberna.com.