Joan Marie McShan was born in Dallas, Texas on July 15, 1930. She was preceded in death by her parents, John O. McShan and Lottie McCall McShan.

She grew up in Lancaster, Texas when the town had only 1500 people. It was a great place to grow up because you knew everyone. The First Christian Church was her church home, joining the church in 1942. She graduated from Lancaster High School in 1947. After graduating from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas in 1951, she began teaching in Dallas, moving to Claire Oliver Elementary School in 1954. In 1955, she graduated from Southern Methodist University with a M.A. Degree. She was then assigned to Justin F. Kimball High School which opened in 1957 and taught Physical Education, Driver Education, and directed the Troubadears, a girl's drill team. In 1963, she went into Counseling and spent the remainder of her 41 years doing so in Dallas Independent School District. Joan retired from teaching in 1992 spending her time camping, bird watching, and traveling with her friends. She loved to be outside enjoying nature, spending a lot of time photographing birds. She served the First Christian Church in Lancaster as a Diaconate and later as a Trustee and an Elder.

A cryptside service for Joan will be at 1:00pm on Saturday, October 23, 2021 in the mausoleum at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Dallas.

The family is requesting that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made in Joan's honor to the Oak Hill Animal Rescue, OHAR.org. Paypal account info@ohar.org