- Date Of Birth: January 29, 1933
- Date Of Death: August 16, 2014
- State: Texas
Joan was born on her family farm near Three Forks Community in 1933 to William and Mary Polk. Joan was a graduate of Belton High School, Mary Hardin-Baylor University, and Baylor University where she obtained a Master’s Degree in Education. Joan was a first grade teacher in Belton for many years until her retirement.
Joan started her teaching career at Tyler Elementary, the very school in which she began her education as a first grader around 1939. Joan had so many wonderful friends from her teaching career. It would be too numerous to mention them all by name, but her fondest memories would certainly have to include fellow educators Linda Chaney, Pat McFarland, and the late Bob McFarland. Joan was married in 1951 to Billy Ray Cawthon, the love of her life. They were married for 60 years until he went to be with our Lord in 2012.
Billy Ray and Joan had two boys, Charles and Matt. Joan is survived by her youngest son, Matt, his wife Shelly, and her sister Rosemary Polk Aiken Sittig, age 93, of Connecticut. Joan leaves behind five loving grandchildren and their families: Jake Cawthon and his wife, Rebecca; John Cawthon and his wife, Layne; Katie Cawthon; Carol Ann McCaig Gibbs and her husband, Andrew; and Caleb McCaig, all of whom lovingly called her “Nana”. Joan was also very proud of her two great-grandchildren, Samantha Cawthon, age 6, and Travis Cawthon, age 2.
Joan is also survived by her extended family to include her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jon and Allyson Cawthon of Brenham; sister-in-law, Cleta Bennett of Waco, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Joan was preceded in death by her husband, Billy Ray Cawthon, her eldest son, Charles Cawthon and her brother Charles Polk. Joan loved her life on the farm where she had so many wonderful memories from her childhood and beyond. Many of the memories she cherished would certainly reflect a lifelong friendship with her neighbors, David and Adele Posey and the Posey family.
Joan was content knowing the family farm is in the wonderfully capable and caring hands of Chuck and Carol Emerson. The family of Joan Cawthon would like to especially thank her lifelong friend, Dorothy Rountree of Manor, Texas, who was a stalwart supporter and was with Joan when she left us. No written words could ever fully express our love and gratitude. It’s been said that some lives may be summed up in just six words. Though it is a few more than six words, Joan had a motto that summed up her life perfectly, “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.”
