RaeCille "Sis" Dawson

RaeCille "Sis" Dawson, 72, of Boulder, received a call on May 12, 2017 with an offer to paint the most incredible landscape view imaginable. She was embraced by the loving arms of her family and in the comfort of her home as the call was accepted.

Her journey began in Butte on April 23, 1945, born to Weston & Isabella Strasser. Prior to graduating Beaverhead County High School in 1963, she dominated beauty pageants and maintained the same beauty and grace as she continued on to earn a degree in Education from The University of Western Montana.

She taught Art, Photography and Physical Education in Jackson, Wyoming and Boulder, Montana for a combined total of 30 years. Many of her students have shared how wonderful, full of life and influential she was.

During the winter months when she was not shredding down a ski hill, she could be found sitting on her porch, thumbing through the spring flowers catalogue. Much like a child on Christmas Eve, visions of petunias, daisies and decorative driftwood danced through her head for months. As the sun warmed the soil, she would be consumed in the magic of every flower she planted, treating them with the same love and compassion as she did with her two children.

RaeCille treasured the moments of her life as if they were her last. She left behind boxes of photographs, capturing moments with a unique perspective visible only through the eyes of a true artist and that now are enjoyed by many. Her creative energy remains in her paintings and artwork, further exemplifying her appreciation of life's moments. Hours were spent immersed in focus and determination while painting even the smallest snowflake on her famous Pine Cones and Holly Berries. The Dawson Ranch was a source of inspiration for much of her artwork.

She was involved with all aspects of a Cowgirl's life. Her two favorite horses, Doc & Champ, shed a tear upon learning that she had taken her final trail ride to the great mountain pasture in the sky. They now rest easy knowing she's happily planted in front of her easel, painting the mountains and sending endless blessings to all of her family and friends.

RaeCille is preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her sister, Kay Jacobson (husband, Daryll Jacobson); brother, Eric Strasser; husband, Jack Dawson; daughter, Trudy Dawson; son, Matt Dawson; and grandson, Kaydin Dawson.

Visitation will be held at K&L Mortuaries in Boulder on Wednesday, May 24th from 6-8pm. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Boulder Fair Grounds on Thursday, May 25th at 2pm.

In Lieu of flowers, please make donations to the RaeCille Dawson Memorial Art Scholarship Fund (c/o Jefferson High School, PO Box 838, Boulder MT 59632), Jefferson Valley EMS and Rescue or the Boulder Ambulance.

That which the caterpillar knows as death and the butterfly knows as birth, we know as transition.