Dixie Tanner Obituary (1928

Dixie Ruth Perry was born April 12, 1928 in Bassett, Virginia, the third of five children born to Basil and Minnie Perry. Dixie's father died when she was a young child and her mother and older brothers worked hard to support the family during the depression years. In spite of that hardship, Dixie graduated from Spencer-Penn High School. She worked at an insurance agency in Martinsville, Virginia until she was introduced to a handsome young sailor, Jesse Tanner. They married in a simple ceremony in the pastor's home. Their only child, Linda, was born in 1954. Dixie traveled with Jesse to Oklahoma, Georgia, Washington, DC area, California, and finally to the Pacific Northwest as he pursued his education and career. After she and Jesse ended their marriage, she remained in Washington for several more years until returning to Virginia to care for her mother. After her mother's death, Dixie stayed on in her mother's small home. Dixie loved being near her brothers and sister and their families, who loved and assisted her as her health failed. She returned to Washington state to be cared for by Linda and her husband, Ken Nichols, when she was no longer able to live alone. Dixie's sister, Emily Shelton, and brothers Hugh, Wesley and John Perry preceded her in death. Dixie loved reading mysteries and watching detective stories on television. She was an accomplished seamstress and made beautiful clothes for herself and Linda. She made intricate thread crochet items and every home Dixie lived in was made beautiful by her decorative touches. She liked nothing better than preparing a meal for family and friends which would be served beautifully and tasted delicious. She selected creative and heartfelt gifts and loved to celebrate birthdays and Christmas. She delighted in her three grandsons, John, David, and Stephen Nichols. She laughed often and made friends wherever she found herself. She especially loved children, and they loved her. In her later years as Alzheimer's disease claimed more of her mind, the joys that remained were her family, especially her great-grandson, Edmund Nichols, and working in her garden. Dixie's grandsons each cared for her regularly during her last years. They delighted in their grandmother and found creative ways to include her in family life. She enjoyed watching House with David, reading and commenting on the newspaper headlines with John, and looking at family pictures with Stephen, among many other entertainments they devised for her. Dixie died on November 25, 2011, after a long and valiant struggle with Alzheimer's disease and chronic leukemia. She died at home surrounded by her family, thanks to the faithful and skilled assistance of Franciscan hospice. Nicole Johnson, Thavy Seng and Linda Dahl became family friends as they ministered to Dixie. Dixie will be remembered for her beauty, both inside and out. She was a faithful friend, a loving mother and grandmother, and a beautiful person. We will miss her every day, but know that she is finally in the home made just for her which she will never have to leave.