The family of Desiann Dawson of Midwest City, OK announces her passing, and invites all who knew her to remember her here.
These pages are a small offering toward a much larger life.
A parent leaves not only memory, but the people they helped become.
Desiann "Desa" Dawson, 74, of Midwest City, OK passed away on April 30, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. Desa was born on September 28, 1951, in Oklahoma City, OK to Wilford "W.P." Lee and Irlene Lee.
Desa graduated from Midwest City High School in 1969 and from the University of Oklahoma in 1973 with a BA in Spanish. She went on to work as a Spanish teacher in the Mid-Del School District for 32 years. After leaving the classroom, Desa became the Director of World Languages for the Oklahoma State Department of Education until she retired in 2018. While teaching, Desa also earned an MA in Latin American Studies from the University of Oklahoma and was a Doctoral Candidate in Curriculum and Instruction at Oklahoma State University.
Desa met James Dawson (Jimmy Jet at the time) during her freshman year of college at the University of Oklahoma. They were set up on a blind date, and they were paired together because they were both the tall ones in their friend groups. Desa knew right away that they were meant to be together, but she always joked that it took a little time to convince James. She was right though; they married in 1973 and were in a loving relationship for 53 years.
Desa loved her family fiercely and was a wonderful wife, sister, mother, and grandmother. Desa was a very supportive mother and could be counted on to attend baseball games, softball games, basketball games, concerts, awards ceremonies, and anything else in which her kids were involved. She loved seeing her children follow their passions and start their own families. Mema, as her grandchildren called her, spent as much time as she could with her grandkids. She loved making pizzas and cookies with them, cheering them on at sporting events, attending band concerts, hanging out in the hot tub, and in general just being with them. She enthralled everyone with her whistling skills, and she gave the best hugs. You would often find Desa on the floor playing with the little ones, and she welcomed all the granddogs as if they were her own.
Desa was a terrific friend who liked to host, and she was an uber organizer. Everything needed to be just right, and she always made sure that it was! She was known for her special dip (her "stuff") and also for her amazing dressing at Thanksgiving. In more recent years, she enjoyed attending a book club with her retired teachers' group and would often mention how much she loved seeing everyone and catching up. She kept in touch with several former students as well as colleagues. Once Desa called you a friend, you were her friend for life.
Desa was passionate about education, especially foreign language education, and she made a great impact in the state of Oklahoma. She was actively involved in the Oklahoma Foreign Language Teachers Association (OFLTA), the American Council on Teaching Foreign Languages (ACTFL), the National Council of State Supervisors for Languages (NCSSFL), and several other professional organizations, even after retirement. She served as the President of OFLTA, ACTFL, and NCSSFL at different times throughout her tenure in the groups. She was also on the Board of Directors for ACTFL and OFLTA. Some of the most prestigious awards that Desa received were the World Language Advocacy Award in 2019, the NCSSFL National State Supervisor of the Year Award in 2014, the Outstanding Educator Award from the University of Oklahoma in 2011, the Oklahoma Foreign Language Teacher of the Year Award in 2004, and the Southwest Conference on Language Teaching Regional Teacher of the Year Award for 2004-2005. Desa was also inducted into the National Foreign Language Teacher Hall of Fame through ACTFL in 2006, and she was even knighted by the French National Ministry of Education in 2008!
Desa is survived by her husband James Dawson; children Justin Dawson and his wife Stacey, Hailey King and her husband Forrest, and Micah Dawson and his wife Courtney; grandchildren Logan Dawson, Mackenzie Dawson, Kamdyn Dawson, Amelia King, Carter Dawson, and Penelope Dawson; brothers Phil Lee and his wife Debbie, and Earl Lee and his wife Darlene; sisters Judy Lee Oliva and her husband Bruce, and Kristy Long and her husband Kent; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. Desa was preceded in death by her parents W.P. Lee and Irlene Lee, as well as her sister Lori Doran.
A celebration of life will be held on Friday, May 29, at the Nick Harroz Community Center in Midwest City, OK from 1:00pm-3:00pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Oklahoma Foreign Language Teachers Association (OFLTA) in Desa's memory. Please contact Whitney Najibi at oflta@oflta.org for more details.
