Dixie Sperry

1938 - 2023

Dixie Rae Mickel Sperry

1938-2023

Murray, UT-It is an honor for me, Lynda Jo Sperry, to share my mother's life story. Dixie Rae Mickel was born October 11, 1938 in Spring City Utah. Her parents, Dortha and Harold Mickel welcomed their third child following Boyd (Karen) and LaNae (Jean), and followed up with Beverly (Ruell) a few years later. The four siblings grew up herding sheep, milking cows, planting and growing their garden, making their way to the outhouse at all hours of the day and night, and having a true rural Utah childhood. Dixie met her lifelong BFF Rochelle (Joe) in kindergarten, and their family was my introduction to the concept of the family you choose. Dixie and Rochelle navigated school side by side as cheerleaders, student body officers, and all around hell-raisers. After high school, Dixie moved to Montana then Colorado working odd jobs including a stint as a stewardess for Frontier airlines where she traveled the world. She loved traveling.

That was when she met Garn Sperry (1926-2011) and her jet setting days were over as they didn't allow married or pregnant attendants. Thus began her chapter as mother in 1968. She drove me to endless singing and dancing practices and performances, piano lessons, camps, softball, soccer, birthdays, and anything I needed or wanted. She was so good at being a carpool queen, she made it to the Olympics and Paralympics where she volunteered to get the athletes up and fed and on the right bus to where they needed to go. She also volunteered with Foster Care of Utah, Make a Wish, March of Dimes, Easter Seals, Alzheimer's Association, and probably more that I can't remember.

Because the universe decided they could only have one biological child, she set out to ensure I did not grow up alone. There were grandparents, cousins and friends at my house all the time, I did not know a life without someone living in the spare bedroom. She loved her Swedish daughter and granddaughter, Asa and Elin, and their beautiful families. Garn and Dixie welcomed three rowdy and rambunctious boys as grandsons, Nick, Travis, and Blake who still never seem to grow up. They gave Dixie a pack of greats starting with Miss Sofi, Jax, Kaden, and Hailey. But that was just some her self-proclaimed grandkids. They also included Cecilia, Furio, Louis, Maddie, Chancey, Trilly, many neighborhood kids, and dozens of nieces and nephews. No doubt I am forgetting some, and I am sorry. You know who you are and she loved you all.

Although her superpower was being Grandma Dixie, she had other talents. She worked for Granite School District for many years where she and a group of crazy ladies calling themselves the Ditzy Chicks met up for Bunco, cards, skiing, golfing, traveling, lunches, birthdays, holidays, theatre shows, and anytime someone needed a friend. She wouldn't miss their get togethers for anything, except for her grandkids.

At the end of her life, she developed Alzheimer's Disease and we watched her amazing spirit decline. It has been a sad and difficult journey and she just didn't want to let go. I want to thank all of the amazing staff at Good Life Senior Living in Mt. Pleasant for their kindness and support for her and me the last few years. She gave them a run for their money, literally as she kept escaping. They found ways to keep her dignity by having her help with dinners, dishes, and hanging out with her good friend Barb. She just couldn't stop being Dixie right up to the end. She is finally back in her husbands arms and he is taking her dancing and to a basketball game between the angels.

As Garn and Dixie's only biological child, my heart is broken and I miss them terribly. They not only gave me life; they showed me the importance of how to live. I am so grateful they were my parents. Dixie requested a celebration of life at Red Butte Garden, so we will gather this spring surrounded by flowers to share stories of her life. The date to be determined. Please write down your memories and favorite Dixie stories to share as we eat, drink, and remember a life well-lived.