Dr. Jean Bates Olsen passed away peacefully on September 29th at the age of 79. She was born the daughter of Evelyn Rowe Bates and John S. Bates, III, on November 21, 1945, in Norwalk, Connecticut.

Jean graduated from Brian McMahon High School and received her bachelor's degree from West Virginia Wesleyan University, master's degree from Wichita State University, and PhD from the University of Arkansas. She worked as a teacher and principal in many states for 25 years.

She was a member of Daughters of the American Revolution, Alpha Delta Pi sorority, New Life Church, and served on many community boards. She enjoyed book clubs, traveling, yoga, Walkie-Talkies, bridge, kayaking, tennis, dancing, skiing, boating, and frolicking with the grandkids!

Jean will be remembered for her sense of humor, inquisitive mind, and making the journey fun! "Cowgirl Up" was her motto!

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Judy McKail, and husband, Eric Olsen.

She is survived by her brother, Jack Bates, and her sister, Joy Thomas. Jean was the mother of Tyler Dawson and his wife, Janette of Kansas, Adam Dawson and his wife, Dawn of Arkansas, and Wade Dawson of Virginia. She was the grandmother of Payton Dawson and his wife, Jacqui, Abigail VonBargen and her husband, Thomas, Shelby Klauman and her husband, Leighton, Kaylen Dawson, Tessa Dawson, Nicholas Dawson, Haley Dawson, Duke & Sienna Dawson, and their mother, Camille Purvis Dawson, her great granddaughters, Wrenley and Riverleigh Klauman, a VonBargen grandson on the way, and many beloved nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Jean's life will be held on Monday, October 6, 2025, at 2:00pm at NewLife Church, Highlands Campus, 15301 North Mount Pleasant Road, Gravette, Arkansas.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to NewLife Church, Highlands Campus, Gravette, Arkansas. https://www.newlifenwa.com/give/