Dorothy Henson

Dorothy Jean Henson, 88, passed away peacefully Sunday, June 13, 2021 at home.  She was born June 3, 1933 to the late Isom and Ruby Lee Roberts Ward. Dorothy made her home in Dallas, Texas where she married Bryan Keith Henson, Sr. and had 2 sons, Michael Wayne Henson and Bryan Keith Henson, Jr.   

Dorothy was an elementary school teacher in Dallas, Texas for 38 years.  She was nominated for a PTA lifetime membership there.  She helped start an Indian Center in Dallas.  She volunteered a lot of her time to the Trinity Indian Mission for under privileged Indian children for 12 years.  The Dorothy Henson addition at the Silver Steen School was named after her because of the work she did for the Indians.  The building has a library, science lab and 17 classrooms. 

She moved back to Idabel in 1997.   The first and only member of her family to become Catholic, Dorothy was an active member of the St. Francis DeSales Catholic Church.  She loved helping people and volunteered most of her life serving the Lord and helping out anyone who she thought was deserving.  She donated time and money to many different ministries. 

She loved her Indian heritage and was once Outstanding Choctaw Indian Elder at the Idabel Center where she enjoyed fellowship and eating every Wednesday.  She played the part “Ida” in the Idabel Centennial Arts Council Play “Tall Cotton” which was about the history of Idabel.  

After she became ill in 2018, she was cared for by her great-niece Jina Jo.  She loved joking and pulling pranks on her. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Isom and Ruby Ward; sons, Bryan Henson, Jr. and Michael Henson; and sister, Betty Jo Ward Sullivan.

She leaves to cherish her memory, grandsons, Cody and Anthony Henson of Broken Bow; niece Carla Capps of Millerton; great-niece, Jina Jo Scott of Idabel; great-nephews, Shane Capps and Shawn Capps; ++great-great-nephews, Skyler Scott and Ty Capps; great-great-nieces, Carlee Capps, Jaycee Scott and Kasey Needham; great-great-great-nephew, Keith Ray Percy; great-great-great niece, Eastlyn Jean Needham; special friends, Kim Phelps, Mike McClure and Bob Stuber all of Idabel; numerous other friends and relatives.   

Rosary service will be held Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. at the Clardy Funeral Service Chapel. 

A Funeral Mass will take place Thursday at 2:00 p.m. at the Saint Frances DeSales Catholic Church in Idabel with Father Steve Austin officiating.  Interment will follow in the Holly Creek Cemetery.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dorothy Henson, please visit our floral store.