Our beloved mother, Dessamae Lorrain, passed away Saturday, July 23, 2011, at Hospice House in Odessa, Texas, two days before her 84th birthday. Her daughter, Diana, and grandson, Alex, were with her at the time of her passing.
Dessamae earned her bachelor’s degree in physics from Tulane University and a master’s degree in anthropology from the University of Texas. She spent most of her working life as an archaeologist, helping to reconstruct early American Indian sites and frontier forts in Texas. In later years she worked as a nurse, park ranger and volunteer, among other things.
She lived in New Orleans, Dallas, Missouri and Arizona before moving to Alpine, Texas in 1994. Dessamae enjoyed studying foreign cultures and visited England, Nepal, Mexico, and India in her travels.
Dessamae Hart married Paul H. Lorrain and three children were born to the marriage: Diana Lorrain Middleton, Janice Clare Lorrain, and Robert Adrien Lorrain.
She is survived by her three children and by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Sarah Hoffman, husband Benny, and children, Clare, Matthew, Ryan and David; Tony Middleton, wife Jennifer, and children Anna and Malcolm; Alex Lorrain-Hill and fiancee, Nicole Taylor; and Paul Lorrain. She leaves behind many friends in Ava, Mo., and Alpine, Texas, and members of the archaeological society.
Dessamae’s ashes will be buried in Missouri. If you wish to donate in her name, please consider Sunshine House in Alpine, Texas or Hospice House in Odessa, Texas.
