In loving memory of Dawn Monson - Obituary Baldwin Brothers

Obituary

Dawn Marie Slayden Monson was born in Detroit, Michigan on May 19, 1954 to Ken & Joan Slayden. Dawn was baptized at Saint Luke Roman Catholic Church in Detroit, Michigan on July 10, 1954. Dawn attended primary school at Saint Clemmons and public school throughout high school. Dawn graduated from Fraser High School, Fraser, Michigan on June 6, 1972.

Dawn’s major in college, teaching (early childhood development and speech pathology). Dawn’s first year (72’) was at Albion College, Albion Michigan. Dawn’s second year she transferred to Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan and graduated with honors on December 22, 1977, earning a Bachelors of Science in teaching.

Dawn earned a Master in the art of teaching with honors from Marygrove College on December 14, 2002. Dawn is extremely giving of herself, she is loving and caring toward others, in every situation she always made sure everyone was safe and taken care of before herself. Dawn wasn’t able to have children of her own, so she poured her love and dedication into teaching. Dawn taught 3rd grade and special education for 39 years, with a specialty in speech development and 38 of those years were spent teaching at the same school Botsford Elementary, in the Clarenceville school district, located in Livonia, Michigan.

Dawn was a strong advocate for the foster child program and she and her husband hoped for adoption through this program, while providing a stable home environment for children in immediate need.

Dawn worked on many committees, attending numerous conferences, seminars and teaching workshops with the intention to improve the methods, techniques and quality of teaching while ensuring her school district maintained the highest standards of skill accreditation regarding reading, writing, speech, science and mathematics.

Dawn partnered with the National Committee on Accreditation, (NCA) to properly assess the common core state standards of instruction in the classroom to establish a benchmark standard for accreditation. Dawn received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from the U.S. House of Representatives Presented to: “Dawn Monson, Clarenceville Public Schools 2012 Elementary School Teacher of the Year Livonia Chamber of Commerce, in recognition of outstanding and invaluable service to the community” January 19, 2012 and signed by Thaddeus G. McCotter, member of Congress. Dawn was honored for teaching 33 years at the same school and she would continue to teach for another five years before retiring in 2017.

My sister Dawn is truly a Saint to me, she loved the Lord, teaching children and helping others by keeping them safe. Service before self, while she suffered a life long debilitating disease called Crohn’s. Crohn’s took it’s toll on Dawn over the years, on March 15, 2024 Dawn Slayden Monson, 69 years old a resident of The Villages community in Marion County, Florida and parishioner of St. Timothy Catholic Church, died at the local Villages hospital of multiple organ failure, after a long history of battling Crohn’s disease, which was effectively diagnosed during her early college years in the mid 1970’s.

Overtime, Crohn’s dramatically weakened Dawn’s immune system and damaged her Kidneys and Liver from years of prescribed medications and steroid treatments in an effort to find a cure. The medical community continues to fight and strive for a cure for Crohn’s disease. Dawn was an early pioneer with the experimental treatments and care as she volunteered for medical staff journaling throughout her journey with Crohn’s, so that others someday may experience a better outcome and quality of life. Please honor my sister by sharing a special donation to the Crohn’s disease foundation.

Her survivors include her brother, Kevin Kenneth Slayden (59), Daughter: Afton Corey Brown (36) Son-in-Law: John Edward Brown (39) Grandson: two grandsons; Jonathan Cole Dickson (15), Kristian Grady Dickson (14) Granddaughter: Gabriella Marie Brown (12).

Funeral Services for Dawn will be held on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at 8:30am in St. Timothy Catholic Church, 1351 Paige Place, Lady Lake, Florida 32159.

God bless my sister Dawn, I love and miss her so much and may her soul rest in peace with the Lord Jesus, until we reunite again someday in heaven.

I love you Dawn, your brother Kevin.