DeeAnn Parsons 72, beloved mother and friend, passed away Wednesday, October 10, 2007 in Carson City. Born January 18, 1935 in Baker City Ore., DeeAnn attended high school in Bend, Ore. She graduated in 1953 and then attended Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Ore., graduating in 1957 and entered elementary teaching.
DeeAnn married a fellow L&C graduate, Jim Lien, in 1958. She had two
daughters, Deena born in Eugene, Oregon in 1962 and Dana in Mayville North Dakota in 1964. DeeAnn moved to Carson City with her family in 1966 and was an active member of the community until her untimely death.
She retired as grants manager of the Nevada Office of Community Services and over the years had worked as a teacher, a radio communications engineer, museum attendant, public relations specialist, executive director of the Arts Alliance and executive director of the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra. She served on the 1976 Bicentennial Committee, served as president of the Association of University Women, vice president of the Carson City League of Women Voters, and was instrumental in organizing the Capital Cutups Square Dance Club.
She served as secretary of the Joint Service Club Council and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Arts Alliance. She also participated in Kiwaniennes and in several plays with the Proscenium Players. She was very active with the Chamber of Commerce activities including the Whistle Off. She enjoyed years of playing with the Carson City Community Band and the Symphony.
n 1981 she was awarded the Governor's Arts Award for Arts Administration and in 1983 she won both the Soroptimist International Women Helping Women Citation and the Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Years Award. Over the years her hobbies have included music, crafts and Tai Chi Chuan.
DeeAnn is survived by daughter Deena Lien-Richards and husband John of Port Hadlock, Wash. ; daughter Dana M. Santos and husband Dan of Livermore, Calif., grandson Quinn Richards of Port Hadlock, ex-husband Jim Lien of Palm Springs, step-father Wilbur Wieprecht and wife Celia of Carson City along with her beloved pup, Quiero.
The family request that those wishing to make memorial contributions make them to a charity of their choice. The family plans to hold a celebration of life at a future date to be announced.
Autumn Funerals and Cremations have been entrusted with the arrangements.