Roberta Sisson Dansby, 86, of Lake Jackson passed away at her home on August 31, 2012 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. A native of Martinsville, Indiana, Roberta was born on July 7, 1926 to Lydia and Robert Sisson.
As a young adult she made her way to Houston to live in a big city and to get away from the snow. She met and married JP Dansby while they were students at the University of Houston, and moved to Lake Jackson when he finished his degree in 1950.
Roberta began her local journalism career in 1952, when she served as a correspondent for the Brazosport Citizen. In 1953 she served as associate editor of the Lake Jackson News, before joining the Brazosport Facts in 1956.
Over the next 33 years, she served in many capacities ranging from reporter to managing editor to columnist while at The Facts.
While serving as managing editor, the National Federation of Press Women named The Facts the nation's best daily newspaper edited by a woman.
While she covered almost all facets of local news, her personal interests revolved around Lake Jackson's civic and cultural growth. She was awarded a Distinguished Service Award from the Lake Jackson Jaycees as well as a citation from the City of Lake Jackson for her work while a member of the Beautification Commission.
Roberta served as a chairperson for the Cradle of Texas Bicentennial Committee as well as an executive committeemember of the Brazosport Fine Arts Council, and later served as a committee member for the Lake Jackson Historical Association.
After retiring from The Facts, she spent the next 20 years learning the German language, and entertaining visitors at her flat in Innsbruck, Austria. When she was in Lake Jackson, she made presentations and slideshows to inform as many people as possible about her beloved Austria. Until the last few years Roberta still found time to volunteer at the BP Center for the Arts and Sciences and to take in an occasional performance there.
Roberta was preceded in death by her husband, JP, and is survived by her son, Brian Dansby and daughter, Joy Dansby and her partner, Mary Ann Flores.
A special thanks to Roberta's longtime caregiver Delores Wriser, as well as Hortencia Bentancourt, Tanisha Purdue, Elva Jimenez, and Ernestina Loeza for their devoted care.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Brazosport Center for the Arts and Sciences.
The family will receive friends at Lakewood Funeral Chapel on Friday, September 7, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

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