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Your Guide To LeFlore County Oklahoma Genealogy
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Updated: 14 Nov 2023
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  Home > Cemeteries > Lookups > Obits > Photos > Queries > Resources > What's New > OKGenWeb

Submitted by 
Sue Hearon, 2002-03
Sue & Earl's Web


Deanna Dawn Gaither Little was born on Friday, December 27, 1957 in Lawton, Okla. and died Sunday, July 20, 2003 at Presbyterian Hospital, Dallas. She was the first child of Billy Donald and Gayle Gaither who lived in Poteau at the time of her birth. Before Dawn began third grade the family moved to Durant and Dawn became a gifted scholar and musician in the Durant School System. She graduated at the top of her class in 1976 and was named among the first six women in the United States to be accepted as cadets at the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.

After her first successful year at the USAFA, Dawn resigned her appointment and returned to school at SOSU with a double major in chemistry and math. Upon completion of her studies Dawn was hired as a lab technician at Texas Instruments to work on a solar energy project with Jack Kilby, considered the father of the microchip and a 2000 winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics. She later worked on research in infrared technology and steadily climbed the corporate ladder until she became a member of the technical staff, and Manager, FPA Production Operations. When DRS bought her division in the late 90s, she was promoted into Finance full time as Manager of Compliance and Planning. She loved her job and the wonderful people with whom she worked.

Dawn met Bradley Warren Little of Tucson, Ariz. in 1980; they married in 1982, established a home in Dallas, and lived happily ever after. Theirs was a marriage of deep commitment and fairy tale happiness. Proof of their great love was evidenced in their partnership against the ovarian cancer that struck Dawn more than three years ago. She will be sorely missed by him and by all of those whose lives she touched. Anyone who came in contact with her during this struggle was inspired by her courage, dignity, love of life, and ability to think of those around her before thinking of herself.

She is survived by her husband, Brad, her mother Gayle Gaither of Durant, her sister, Gaye, of Chicago, and her brother, Chris, of Pensacola, Fla. Also surviving are her grandfather, Howard (Papa Doc) Caldwell and his wife Betty, her uncle Tommy Caldwell and his wife Koko, her uncle Kenneth Gaither and his wife Robbie, all of Poteau. Her uncle Norman Gaither and his wife Lynda reside in Kerrville, Texas. Other survivors from her Tucson family are her parents-in-law, Bob and Jerry Little; her brothers-in-law Sarg Little and his wife Debbie, and Blair Little and his wife Shela. She has seven first cousins and six nieces and nephews who will miss her greatly.

The family has requested that memorials be in the form of donations to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 297153, Houston, TX 77297, attention Dawn Little Memorial Fund, and the proceeds will go directly for ovarian cancer research. A toll-free number is available for those wishing to use credit cards: 1.800.525.5841.

A memorial service is planned for 11:30 a.m. Thursday, July 24, 2003, in the Memorial Chapel of Restland Funeral Home, 9220 Restland Road, Dallas, TX. The Reverend Josh Rowley, First Presbyterian Church, Durant, Okla. will be in charge of the service.

 

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Updated: 14 Nov 2023
Marti Graham, County Coordinator & Webmaster

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