Joan E. McCright, 71

Joan E. McCright, age 71, of Roberts, died peacefully at her home, surrounded by her family, on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008.

Joan was born on Sept. 21, 1937 to Louis and Shirley (Marquardt) Leach in Heron Lake, Minn. She grew up and graduated from school in Fairmont.

After school, Joan got a job with the Fairmont Phone Company as a switchboard operator. She would do this job faithfully for many years. On April 14, 1955, Joan was married to Lowell Dickenson in Las Cruces, N.M. This marriage would be blessed by four children; Drew, Blake, Kelly and Becky. Eventually, the marriage to Lowell would dissolve and Joan and the children moved to the Twin Cities.

Once there, she first worked as a waitress but then got a job at Paul’s Place again as a switchboard operator. She did this until she worked the switchboard at American Hoist and Derrick. She would do this job for 18 years.

While in St. Paul, Joan was married to Donald McCright on May 10, 1975. The two moved to Wisconsin where Joan got a job at the Super 8 Motel as the head front desk clerk. In 1992 Donald passed away. Joan continued her work at the Super 8 for another 14 years until she found an opportunity to work with her son, Blake, at the Wal-Mart in New Richmond. Her job there was again at the switchboard, which she ran until her illness prevented her from working.

Despite her years, Joan never considered herself as an old person. She preferred the company of her children and grandchildren and loved to socialize at community events at any activities she could partake in. She was a fan of Elvis and a huge Tom Jones fan. With her grandkids she went to garage sales where she taught them the art of “haggling.” She loved spending time with her family and her four dogs. Her favorite animal was the elephant and for 20 years she had collected many different types of elephant figurines. She had figures made from; glass, sand, rock, stuffed animals, wood, and many other varieties and she collected them from places all over the world. When not out visiting friends she liked to relax at home watching the Lifetime channel, Wheel of Fortune and Price is Right.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Shirley, and her husband Donald McCright.

She is survived by her children; Drew (Wannetta) Dickenson of Spring Valley, Wis., Blake (Kim) Dickenson of Roberts, Wis., Kelly (David) Gruber of Hugo, Minn., and Becky Dickenson of Roberts, Wis.; grandchildren, Michael, James, Aeriel, Emily, Katie, Ashley, Allie, Austin, Megan, Nicholas, and Andrew; and one great-grandchild, Josie. She is further survived by many friends, her extended family at the New Richmond, Wal-Mart and in the Roberts community and her four dogs, Sadie, Gypsy, Blackjack and Kirby.

Services for Joan will be held on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008 at the Roberts United Congregational Church in Robert’s Wisconsin at 11 a.m. Visitation will be held on Friday, Dec. 12, 2008 at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home in Baldwin, Wisconsin from 5 to 8 p.m. There will also be a visit at the church on Saturday, one hour before the services. Burial will be held on Monday, Dec. 15, 2008 at the Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

The O’Connell Family Funeral Home in Baldwin has been entrusted with services.

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