Joan Olivarez

Joan Marilyn Olivarez of Temple passed peacefully in her home on December 27, 2021.

She was born to Charles and Elizabeth (Hahn) Shier on January 25, 1936, in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. After graduating from high school, she pursued a career as a medical laboratory technician. She married the late Elias Olivarez on December 7, 1966, and together, they had two children: Mark and Melissa. After their divorce, Joan returned to the workforce and worked at the Chick-fil-A in Killeen Mall for 10 years and later as a Health Unit Coordinator at Scott & White Santa Fe Hospital for 20 years. She retired from Scott & White in 2011.

Joan was known to her friends as fun-loving and stubborn. She loved sewing, scrapbooking, and card-making, and after her retirement, she spent many weekends with friends traveling to scrapbook retreats or making cards for loved ones.

Joan is survived by her two children, Mark Olivarez (Adrienne) of Temple and Melissa Middlebrook (David) of Temple; grandchildren Leslie Sullivan (Brick) of Temple, Andrew Olivarez (Destany) of Bonham, and Jared Middlebrook, Jordan Middlebrook, and Joshua Middlebrook of Temple; three great grandsons; brother Robert Shier (Marie) of London, Ontario, Canada; nephew Darrell Shier (Barb) of London, Ontario; niece Leanne Shier of London, Ontario; and several great-nieces and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and niece, Karen Gagnon.

Her family would like to thank Scott & White Hospice and Visiting Angels for their compassionate care these past few months.

A funeral service is scheduled for 3 pm on Wednesday, January 5, 2021, at Dossman Funeral Home in Belton with Rev. Mike Baggerly officiating. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Scott & White Hospice, 5701 Airport Road, Temple, Texas 76502.

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