Le Ann Roberts

Le Ann Roberts, 59, was born October 14, 1965, in Dallas. After a years-long battle with young-onset Alzheimer’s and Primary Progressive Aphasia, Le Ann passed away peacefully on August 1, 2025 in Fort Worth.

Memorial Service: 2:00 p.m.  Friday, August 8, 2025 in the Sanctuary of University Christian Church, 2720 S. University Drive with a reception following in the Gallery Commons.

The daughter of Jimmie J. and Lo Ann Henslee, Le Ann grew up in Grand Prairie. As a student at Grand Prairie High School, she was a member of the band and Geepette’s Drill Team, serving as Captain her senior year. She was also a member of the Student Council.

Following graduation from high school in 1984, Le Ann attended the University of Texas at Austin, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater Education. Le Ann continued her education at TCU where she received a Master of Science in Speech Communications.

A gifted teacher, Le Ann began her career as a college instructor of Speech Communications at Dallas College’s El Centro campus in 1990. There, she received the Excellence in Teaching Award, as selected by consensus of the faculty chairs and Academic Dean.

After marriage rescued Le Ann from Dallas and brought her to Fort Worth, she taught at Texas Wesleyan University and was recognized with the Golden Ruler Award for outstanding teacher of freshmen students. Le Ann also taught at TCU where she developed the University’s first accredited Service Learning Program for the Communication Studies Department. Through this program, Le Ann and her students worked with children and youth at local nonprofit organizations over several years. Because of the positive impact she and her students made throughout Fort Worth, the University presented her its Most Inspirational Professor Award in 2009.

While attending graduate school at TCU, mutual acquaintances arranged a blind date with Le Ann and Ken Roberts. A shared story of love at first sight, Le Ann matter-of-factly told her best friend following the date, “I’m going to marry him.” Le Ann and Ken married three years later and celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary on July 18.

Together, they have an amazing daughter, Zoe Lauren Clark Roberts, who provided unwavering care for her mother throughout her long illness, especially during Le Ann’s final months.

Le Ann was a member of University Christian Church in Fort Worth where she served on the PEW (Pray, Eat, Work) team. On any given Sunday, you could find Le Ann and her PEW teammates doing some sort of hands-on activity. Regardless of the task—folding school uniforms for students at 40 Fort Worth ISD schools, writing birthday cards for senior church members, preparing candles for the Christmas Eve candlelight service—Le Ann enjoyed serving her Lord quietly and without recognition.

Le Ann enjoyed traveling and creating special memories with Ken and Zoe, most notably on summer trips to Maine and a visit to Paris in 2022.

Le Ann lived each moment with grace and dignity. She treated every person she met with equal kindness. Although she suffered from Alzheimer’s, not once did she utter “why me?” Instead, she faced her disease with honesty and courage, providing an incredible example of trust in God over things we cannot control on earth.

Le Ann was predeceased by her mother. In addition to Ken and Zoe, Le Ann is survived by her father and her brother, Jimmie J. Henslee II (Kurt Rowe). She is also survived by her sisters-in-law who loved her as a true sister: Marsha Stallard (Charles Everly), Carey Dale Roberts, Patricia Roberts, and Melissa Roberts.

If you wish to honor Le Ann, please consider making a memorial donation in her name to the Alzheimer’s Association on her Tribute Page or to HOPE Farm at https://hopefarm.org/donate/.  Select “Dedicate this gift” to designate your gift in memory of Le Ann.