Roxie Kathrynn Allison

On June 17, 1947, a baby girl was born to George Henderson Thaxton and his wife, Vernelle Rebecca (Bowman) Thaxton. They named her Roxie after her mom's favorite aunt, and Kathrynn because they thought it was pretty. As the first granddaughter, she was somewhat spoiled by her grandparents and grew up quite independent, knowing that she could do most anything she set her mind to. Surrounded by horses, mules, ponies, cattle, dogs, cats, chickens, guineas, rabbits, and a few chinchillas, she could meow before she could talk.

Through the years, she lived in Pecos, Louisiana, Llano, Dallas, Princeton, and Everman before coming back to Cherokee (where she had spent many a childhood summer) and San Saba (where she had been born). At Pecos High School, she played tenor sax in the marching band when band director Bill Carrico led his exemplary band to win the Outstanding Marching Band title at the Tri-State Festival in Enid, Oklahoma.

When her dad was transferred to Louisiana, she confused the guys at school because she took advanced math and science classes, and even shop class, instead of entering beauty pageants. In Dallas, she took a computer programming course at Control Data Institute while also working full-time. She was the only female in a class of over 70 and the only one younger than the instructor. She was also one of only seven to graduate, finishing at the top of her class. Her name was inscribed on a plaque. Even so, no one was willing to hire a female programmer back then, so she took a job as an operator and became one of the top in Dallas.

She met a computer technician who was troubleshooting one of the machines, and they found they shared a love of horses and the outdoors. His name was William Reginald (Bill) Allison. They were married on December 28, 1970, and on July 29, 1971, welcomed their first child, Regina Fay. Six weeks early, and with no fingernails, toenails, eyebrows, or eyelashes, she still weighed nearly nine pounds. Kay was glad she had slipped in the mud while feeding the horses-the doctor said the baby would likely have weighed 12 pounds full-term.

On June 3, 1982, Tia Marie joined the family, weighing more than 10 pounds. She was the biggest baby born at Hugley Hospital that day. In 1985, after both having to undergo back surgeries from accidents-and to escape the hectic Metroplex traffic-Bill and Kay moved their family to the ranch in Cherokee. They spent many lovely evenings with family and friends around a campfire, cooking burgers or sausages, toasting marshmallows, and watching the sun set and the stars come out and twinkle at a little picnic area that might just have been the most beautiful spot on earth.

Kay also loved rock collecting, a passion she had since early childhood; family history (especially involving her Cherokee and Comanche ancestors); stories about the War Between the States (likely inspired by her great-grandfather, who at the tender age of 12 had to cut off the gangrenous leg of a wounded Confederate soldier while the older men of the Bickley household were off fighting); jewelry making; and, in her later years, Sudoku.

Kay was a wonderful mom. Even though she missed her husband of more than fifty years terribly after losing him to cancer, she kept it together and did an incredible job caring for Tia, their special needs daughter. Their firstborn said, "Mom was my rock."

Through the years, many young people-often not related-called her and her husband "Uncle Bill and Aunt Kay" or "Daddy Bill and Momma Kay." Once, a boy who had been calling them Uncle Bill and Aunt Kay asked his mother if Aunt Kay was her sister or if Uncle Bill was her brother, because he wanted to know how they were related. Just by love, not by blood-and that's what really makes a family, isn't it? Who, having read the Book of Ruth, wouldn't say she was Naomi's family? And from the cross, didn't our Lord say, "Woman, behold your son," and to the disciple He loved, "Behold your mother"?

Roxie Kathrynn (Thaxton) Allison left this world for the golden streets and greener pastures of the next just after Friday, March 13, 2026, gave way to Saturday, March 14. Some would say she is walking with her beloved husband, but they'd be wrong. She's riding her favorite mare, Lady Lucy, and Bill is at her side on Chicaro, their big paint stallion, as they lope across those heavenly fields. Daddy Pa and Noni are watching, and Miss Betty is quilting, keeping an eye out to be sure they don't spook the chickens.

Kay was preceded in death by her beloved husband of over fifty years, Bill Allison; her parents, George and Vernelle Thaxton; a son lost to miscarriage before he had the chance to meet his family; her grandparents; her best friend, Jerry Riggs; and many other friends and family. She is with them now.

She is survived by her daughters, Regina F. Allison, Tia M. Allison, and Cynthia K. Allison; her son, Freddy Ayala; her granddaughters, Antonette Hinojosa and Samantha Escobedo; her grandson, Jacob Sanchez; several honorary grandchildren; numerous cousins, including Leta Ann Metzger, Janet Thaxton, and George Gray; and friends who are like family, including Del Becker-Sagebiel, Eva Grumbles, Sandra and Donald Parks, the Riggs family, the Murrays, and many others too numerous to mention.

Kay loved her family, her four-legged family, her church family, and her friends. She will be deeply missed.