Dorothy Ann Priest 1929 - 2016
Dorothy Ann Priest, 86, of Dallas, Texas, passed away June 2, 2016, at her home.
Ann was born July 15, 1929, to Paul and Maude Marable, in Clarksville. She graduated from Clarksville High School, and received college training, at 16 years old at the University of Texas, and later in 1968 and 1969 at Texas Tech University.
She met her first husband, Swift Sparks, at the University of Texas. They married in Clarksville, following WWII. Swift and Ann moved to Houston, where they had their first son, and then to Little Rock, Ark., where their second son was born. They later lived in Richmond, Va., and in Lubbock, Dallas and finally, Wills Point.
Swift died tragically by suicide in 1988, and Ann relocated back to Dallas, penniless. It was here, while working at Richland College, that she became reconnected to her future husband of 26 years, Bill J. Priest. Bill died Dec. 31, 2014, of complications of senile dementia.
Ann was a full-time wife and mother until both boys left for college. She soon joined the staff of Richland College, where she made lifelong friends and became the personal secretary to three presidents of that school. It was there that she met Bill Priest, the retired chancellor of the Dallas County Community Colleges District, while serving as his secretary and formed a lifelong relationship.
Upon the death of Swift Sparks and Bill’s spouse, Marietta Priest, she and Bill were wed. Bill’s career-long relationship with the movers and shakers of Dallas brought Ann contacts with the community college district that lasted until her death.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Maude Marable; husband, Swift Sparks; husband, Bill J. Priest; brother, Paul Marable Jr. and brother, Allen Marable.
Ann is survived by son, Swift “Sparky” Sparks Jr. and wife Jan of Wills Point, son, Allen Sparks and wife Margaret Ann of Bethesda, Md.; grandchildren, Sarah Dockery and husband Dan of Bethesda, Md.; Jessica Sparks and fiancé Matt Elliott of Dallas; Sally Jean and husband Scott Venters of Seattle, Wash.; Swift Sparks III and wife Sarah of Austin; and great-grandchildren, Brendan and Sagan Dockery.
She is also survived by her extended family of Marables, including sister-in-law Betty Marable of Waco, and seven nephews and nieces who blessed her life in countless ways.
A memorial to Ann was celebrated at the home of Sparky and Jan Sparks, in the home she designed in Wills Point June 11. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to the Ann Priest Writing Endowed Scholarship at DCCCD Foundation, 1601 S. Lamar St., Dallas TX 75215-1816.
