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Dixie Louis Thompson Herrington died on July 5, 2020, at the age of 97 years. She was born on October 6, 1922, and was the daughter of James Earl (Jack) Edwards and Robbie Lee (Bobbie) Latimer Edwards. She grew up in the family home on the English highway. Dating back to 1842, she was the fifth generation of her family to live in Red River County. When she was a young child, the family home in Clarksville burned and the family moved to their home on the English highway. Her father operated an oil and gas distributorship and was driven out of business during the depression. She recalls that they fared fairly well since they grew most of their own food. During school years she would board in Clarksville because the roads were so bad in poor weather. She graduated from Clarksville High School. While working at a businesses on the square, she met Tom Herrington. They were married in 1941. She was a partner in the many business ventures they operated in Clarksville. In the early 40's they owned Herrington Furniture located where the Chamber of Commerce is now. Other businesses they operated over the years were a Bendix appliance store, a Western Auto store, Tom’s Café on Depot street, and Herrington Specialty Shop. Later they built and operated The Branding Iron restaurant and private club. Dixie was always involved in civic, business and social activities all of her life. During the school years of her children, she was a driving force in organizing parties, dances and other activities for teenagers. She was the main organizer of the Youth Center located behind June Brewer’s clothing store. It hosted a dance every Friday night for junior high and Saturday nights for high school students. She was instrumental in the fund raising for the building of the hospital. One of her more enjoyable activities was her membership for many years in the New Century Club, a literary club. She was an avid reader and cross word puzzle solver. As president of the Appraisal District, she helped to move the organization into the modern era. Her political life included serving on the Clarksville City Council and she was the District Clerk of Red River County. During that time, she modernized the organization and operation of that office. During the early 50's, her husband, Tom, began working for International Fidelity Insurance Company, which sold life insurance policies on military bases. Before school years began for her children, she would pack up the kids and follow Tom all across the United States, going as far as Canada on the west coast and Maryland on the east coast. In the early part of the 1950's, a new home was built on College Avenue. She drew the plans for the house to scale just as a professional would have done. Dixie was a great cook. The mounds of chicken fried steak over the years would fill a room. The home she ran was always full of guests for dinner. She enjoyed entertaining. Family holidays were a special event, and she would go all out to make it a memorable one. After Tom died in 1974, she later met and married Charles Thompson. After a few years, he retired and they began to travel. They made several trips to Europe. They also bought a interest in Hotel de la Monnaie in New Orleans and would make the journey to New Orleans each year for a week. She had a great memory recall and could tell in great detail about each trip. After Charles had died, she continued to travel with her daughter, Sheri and her son Jack. Even after she could no longer drive or travel, her interest in every aspect of life continued. Of course, she would also like to hear the latest gossip. Right up to the end of her life, she continued to read and do her cross words. She was the rock of the family. Her grandson John best reflected what she was to family. In an email, he said, “You probably don’t realize how much you have already given me the last 47 years. Besides all of the diapers you have changed, the meals you have cooked, the pecan pies you have made, the family get togethers you have hosted, and the unconditional love you have given me and my family, you have also been an exceptional role model to me. Your advice to me has always been honest, to the point, and pretty darn good. The wisdom you have passed down and continue to pass down to me is truly priceless, and because of all of this I feel like you have already given me a gold mine.” She will be missed. She was preceded in death by her husbands Tom Herrington and Charles Thompson, her step-daughter, Mary Lou Stone and her step-son Tommy Allen Herrington. Survivors include her son, Jack Herrington and wife, Barbara; her daughter Sheri Schwed, her son, Michael Shane Herrington and wife Mary Kay; her step daughters, Carol Woodruff and husband, John, Nancy Miller and husband, Dale; Grandchildren, John Herrington and wife, Kim, Michael Herrington and wife Dana, Paul Watzlavick and wife Dawn, Robert Watzlavick and wife Melissa, Tracie Reichel and husband Lee, Chris Herrington and Kimberly, Tom Fitzgerald and wife, Margie, Archie Fitzgerald and wife, Brenda, great-grandchlldren, Morgan Watson and Thomas, Hannah McKinney and Jay, Jenna Herrington, Lauren Herrington, Rebekah Herrington, Sarah Watzlavick, Owen Watzlavick, Spencer Watzlavick, Andrew Watzlavick, Racquel Reichel, Kate Reichel, Emily Reichel, Katie Rose;; Great-great children, Kye Watson, Maebry McKinney, Clyde Owen McKinney; cousins, Bill Latimer, Ann Whitener, Debbie Norris, David Latimer. A special thanks to Shirley Harper Miller and Tina Meredith, a long time caregiver. Thank you to Debra Davis a neighbor and caregiver. Thank you to Dr. Ganguly for his extra special care of Dixie and to the nurses at Country Home Care and Hospice. And a special thanks to Denise Chaloner and husband, Jim Bill Chaloner and Pam Lerman. For the past six plus years, they have shown a special love for Dixie while taking care of her every need. You are and will always be family.
Graveside services are set for 1:00 PM Tuesday, July 7, 2020 at Fairview Cemetery with Rev. Michael Herrington officiating. Services are under the direction of Clarksville Funeral Home.
Pallbearers are John Herrington, Paul Watzlavick, Robert Watzlavick, Tom Fitzgerald, Jim Bill Chaloner and Michael Herrington.
Memories and condolences may be added at www.clarksvillefuneralhome.com
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