Marilyn Monroe Dickie

Marilyn Monroe Dickie, 95, passed away peacefully in her home on Sunday, August 17. She was surrounded by her children, comfortable and at peace following a short time of ill health. It seems appropriate that she died at 6 a.m. because, although a night person moving around and storing memories, she was often awake early and ready to start the day.

Marilyn was a ray of sunshine in our lives. She was born in Dallas and lived there during her childhood with her beloved parents, Joseph Stanley Clark Monroe and Minnie Louise Major Monroe. Her somewhat older sister and friend, Margie Monroe Appleton, preceded her in death. Marilyn loved her years in Dallas and

later in Denton, where her family moved in the late 1930s. Stanley owned a furniture store there and was a civic leader. Louise was the height of graciousness, and Marilyn admired and respected both for their kindness and stability. She reveled in their love and the love of many friends, especially her cherished Sub Deb sorority sisters. She graduated from Denton High School at 16 in 1947. She had a busy social life filled with parties, dances and friends. She spent two years at Christian College (now Columbia College) in Columbia, Mo., where again she made lifelong friends.

In 1949, her life intersected with that of Alexander Dickie Jr., who had completed his bachelor's degree at Texas A&M, served in the Marine Corps in China and then completed a master's in economics at University of North Texas in Denton. They married on March 1, 1950, settling first in Denton and then for a while on a farm in Krum, Texas, where their first three children--Sarah, Mary and Lex--were born. They moved on to another ranch near Denton, where Alex was in partnership with his father in Dickie and Son Ranching. He also served as president of the Texas Farmers Union in the 1950s, moving around all over the state while Marilyn ran the home. Throughout these many moves, Marilyn was a linchpin for countless people, not just her children and life partner. The life she lived and shared was awe-inspiring. Her generosity, vitality and openness drew people to her by the score.

In 1961, the family moved to Arlington, Va., where Alex became administrative assistant to U.S. Sen. Ralph W. Yarborough. By that time, Martha and Joe had joined the family, and all seven settled in Northern Virginia, with Alex commuting into Washington, D.C. each day. They built a home on Chesterbrook Road in Arlington, where Marilyn ran a household full of love and work, excitement and calm. Carolyn and Kate were born in that decade.

In 1969, the family moved to Nairobi, Kenya, with Alex working for the U.S. Agency for International Development. Each move changed the family's horizons, adding to their appreciation and respect for the many ways people can make a living, get an education, care for others and treasure life. They went on to live in Sierra Leone and Guyana, and spent the years in between in the Blue Ridge Mountains on the Shenandoah River and in Arlington. It was an exciting life with time spent all over the map, including their childhood homes in Texas.

When Alex retired, they lived some in Austin and some on the family ranch in Woodson, Texas, where Marilyn again made countless friends and created more memories. This was all an adventure on which they invited many to join: children, grandchildren, old friends and new ones from all over the world. Marilyn was in the middle of it all, able to make the best of all that life had to offer. They spent their later years in Woodson and in homes in Austin with family and friends, listening to music, riding horses, making lemon pies and welcoming all.

Marilyn's life was a distillation of challenges and adventures. She was full of words of wisdom learned from a life lived to the fullest. A friend wrote of her: "Where there was lack, she brought plenty. She was an anomaly; not exactly old-fashioned, not exactly modern, rather a unique and precious being, entirely

herself, indispensable and unsinkable. She was an amalgamation of all the best a human can aspire to be. She will always be an extra palpitation in our hearts".

Marilyn is survived by her daughter, Sarah Dickie Todd, and son-in-law Rusty Todd of Austin; daughter Mary Dickie of Washington, D.C. and son-in-law Leslie Dach; son Alexander Dickie and daughter-in-law Tracey Parker of Austin; daughter Martha Dickie and son-in-law James Rader of Austin; son Joe Dickie

and daughter-in-law Beth Cottey of Austin; daughter Carolyn Lewis and son-in-law Don Lewis of Austin; and daughter Kate Dickie Supron of Ithaca, New York. She has 14 grandchildren and three great- grandchildren.

Her family cannot fathom going on without her. We know, however, we can do what she taught us: Love and support each other and focus on making this world a better and kinder place.