08/18/2018
Dawna Louise (Slocum) Larson passed away early Saturday, August 18, 2018, at the Comfort House in Pella. Dawna was born to the late Don and Margaret Slocum at her Grandma Riley’s home in Knoxville, on January 17, 1940.
She is survived by three children: Curt (Kim) Larson of San Antonio, Tx; Cris (Ginger) Larson of San Antonio, Tx; and Becky (JimBob) Darnell of Knoxville. Her son, Cory (Martha) preceded her in death in 2008.
Dawna, or “Grandma Piggy” as she was known by them, is also survived by the joy of her life…10 grandchildren: Nicole (Jason) Spicer; Ryan (Lacee) Larson; Kaylynn Shoop; Sunny (Keenon) Perez; Dylan (Savannah) Larson; Audrey, Emma, and Landry Larson; Austin (Taylor) Darnell, and Dallas and Wyatt Darnell. She was also “Great-Grandma Piggy” to Charlotte Larson, Layla Perez, and Cory Lee Larson; and “Aunt Piggy” to three nieces and a nephew. All of her “children” loved her dearly.
Also surviving Dawna is her brother, Larry (Thelma) Slocum of Ft. Collins, Colorado, and her sister, Elayne (Gary) Waggoner of Beavercreek, Ohio.
Dawna was a beautician; she practiced her skill well into her 70s when she tended to residents at Windsor Ridge apartments. She loved her job.
Dawna also was a volunteer. After living in many places around the world as an Army wife, she moved back to Knoxville in 1984 (?)
She loved being of help and wanted to support all good causes…especially those that benefited her hometown. She was active in the Alumni association and was a key planner in the many reunions and get-togethers with her class of 1958 and loved getting together with “the girls” from her class; she supported SOS and all homecoming gatherings; for many years, she was an active member of the Knoxville Garden Club and worked to support their annual Garden Gala; she was a member of the Greenwood Cemetery Board. Dawna was a life-long member of the Community of Christ Church (formerly RLDS).
Dawna had a great sense of humor. She loved people and welcomed any chance to get together with family and friends.
She was always ready and willing to help someone in need. She never met a stranger; she always wanted to find out where they were born, who they might know in common, and to whom the person was related. Her hobbies included gardening, crafts, painting, and watching and cheering for her beloved San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Cowboys, and lately the Chicago Cubs.
Dawna would seize any opportunity to spend time with her grandchildren; she loved attending any sporting event she could in which they were involved. She also loved to travel…especially to San Antonio to spend time with her family there.
Dawna has donated her body to the University of Iowa Medical School. It was her hope that her illnesses could be studied and possibly help others in the future.