Lisa Dodson
Memorial Education Fund

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This fund has been created in loving memory of Lisa Ann Dodson, executive assistant for the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce for 16 years, who suffered a massive stroke and passed away December 18, 2008. She was 48.

Lisa coordinated all activities of the Chamber's Board of Directors, and coordinated and documented many high-level meetings of the region's business executives and elected officials. She also managed fundraising and volunteer activities for the National Cutting Horse Association's Cutting Champions Club and Futurity events.

She left behind a loving husband David Dodson, a middle school science teacher, and two daughters. Visit her Remembrance Guestbook here. 

Fund Description

Awards from the Lisa Dodson Memorial Education Fund will be used to supplement teachers’ needs in Fort Worth ISD classrooms and distributed through the Chamber’s five Area Council Boards to their adopted schools: North-J.P. Elder Middle School, Central-Charles Nash Elementary School, East-Meadowbrook Middle School, West-Monnig Middle School and South-South Hills High School.

Funding will be reviewed and granted by the Fort Worth Chamber Foundation Trustees.

Past education projects of Chamber Area Councils have included math and science camps, robotics kits, a science garden, back-to-school packs for financial need children and field trips.

Donations

All donations to the Fort Worth Chamber Foundation, Inc., and the Lisa Dodson Memorial Education Fund are tax deductible in accordance with federal tax laws.

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More About Lisa

OBITUARY: Lisa Ann Dodson, 48, worked to make her community a better place

By Eva-Marie Ayala at Star-Telegram

FORT WORTH — When Lisa Ann Dodson walked into the room, she was usually recognized, her husband said Monday.

As executive assistant for the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, she had met many people as she organized events.

"Everyone would see her and say, 'Oh, that’s Lisa Dodson, but I don’t know " David Dodson said. "I was proud to be that guy who that guy is next to her,’ next to her."

Mrs. Dodson died Thursday. She was 48. A recent car wreck caused a blood clot that led to a stroke, her family said.

Lisa Ann Stone was born Dec. 4, 1960, in Fort Worth to Felton and Carol Stone, but she grew up on her family’s farm in Poolville.

As a teenager, she regularly donated blood at Carter BloodCare, where a young worker took notice of her and eventually asked her out.

"I told her, 'You know you need to eat a meal now, and I sure wouldn’t mind buying you that meal,'" David Dodson said. The two went on a date and were married for 28 years.

"When I met her, Lisa was giving blood to save lives and when she died, she donated every organ, including those beautiful eyes, to help others. That’s how she was."

Mrs. Dodson was an active volunteer who coached softball, taught Sunday school at First United Methodist Church and worked through the chamber, the Junior Women’s Club or the Women’s Club, relatives said.

Co-workers said Mrs. Dodson was a motivator who made sure everyone was included and loved decorating the office for events such as Christmas or the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.

Angela Strittmatter met Mrs. Dodson through the National Cutting Horse Association more than a decade ago; recently the two worked with the North Texas Cutters Champion Club, which raises money for the NCHA.

"She had such an energy and drive that if she was involved in a project, you knew its mission was going to be accomplished," Strittmatter said. "I was lucky to have her as a friend.

"The Sunday before she died we were talking about our families. She said, 'You are blessed and so am I.’ Her family and girls were everything."

Mrs. Dodson had two daughters, Andrea Leigh and Laura Ann. David Dodson, a middle school science teacher, said his wife always put their family first and worked hard to help him build up real estate investments over the years.

They were planning to retire soon and travel.

David Dodson’s loss was compounded last Thursday when six hours after his wife died, his father, a retired military man, died of a stroke in Waco.

On Monday, Dodson said he was grateful for the "saints and patriots" he has had in his life.

"My wife was a saint, and my dad was a patriot," he said.

In addition to her husband and daughters, other survivors include her parents; and a brother, Keith Stone.