Dorothy Ann Edwards Oyen Oct. 6, 1929 Aug. 30, 2024

Dorothy Ann Edwards Oyen of Houston passed away peacefully on Aug. 30, 2024. She was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, on Oct. 6, 1929, to James Allen Edwards and Nettie Elizabeth Hood Edwards Beville.

Shortly after her birth, her family moved to Fort Worth where she spent her formative years. She attended Texas Women’s University, later transferring to the University of Texas where she graduated with a degree in home economics. Her first job was a teaching position in Victoria, Texas.

Friends arranged a blind date for her with Don Oyen, a handsome chemical engineer who had relocated from New York to start up the DuPont plant in Bloomington. After several dates and eating Ann’s amazing coconut cream pie, he proposed.

Ann and Don were married Feb. 16, 1952, in First English Lutheran Church, Victoria. They worked together to raise two children in a loving home. They were married for 46 years until his passing in 1998.

In Ann’s early years she began to display her leadership abilities when she was elected president of the Bio-Chem-Phy Club in high school. At Texas Women’s University she was elected president of the freshman class. While at the University of Texas, Caruthers Dormitory selected her to represent the dorm as a candidate for Bluebonnet Belle.

She was interviewed by the Dean of U.T., Arno “Shorty” Nowotney, Student Body President Barefoot Sanders, and Daily Texan Editor Ronnie Dugger. When she was asked by Sanders (who had bushy hair) what she thought of bushy headed men, she boldly replied that she preferred bald headed men because they had better manners.

The other men laughed. She was one of eight beauties chosen to represent the University as a Bluebonnet Belle of 1950.

After Ann’s children had started school, she decided to return to teaching. For 20 years she taught homemaking and home and family living for seniors at Victoria High School. She was an innovative teacher who made her classes come alive with pie baking contests, mock weddings, and drills on good manners along with table etiquette.

Her classroom creativity was featured in a Victoria Advocate story and on the local television station. Her students, fellow teachers and friends were greatly loved. She kept in touch with many of them until recently.

Outside of school, Ann excelled at meal preparation and planning. She loved to try new recipes, host luncheons and dinner parties, preparing the food and hosting events flawlessly.

She loved interior decorating and creating a lovely home. In her later years she served on the Altar Guild at Memorial Drive Lutheran Church.

Ann’s greatest claim to fame was knowing that the creator of the universe had sent His only son to die on a cross for her sins. She awakened early Friday morning to see Jesus in His glory and sing His praise.

Ann’s family is thankful for her life and the legacy she has left.

Preceding her in death were her parents, stepfather John Beville, and her husband.

She is survived by one daughter, Lise (Bo) Wall of Boerne and one son, John (Judith) Oyen of Houston; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.