Dixie Claire Feezor

Dixie Dana Feezor 86, of Show Low, AZ, passed away peacefully on July 15, 2018.  She was born to Kenneth Hugh Dana and Leah Solomon Dana on October 7, 1931.

Delivered by her Grandma Helen Dana, a midwife, who founded and operated the Dana Maternity Home in Mesa.  She was in great hands as Grandma Helen had delivered over 12,500 babies by the time she had retired.   Dixie was born and raised in Mesa and she always took great pride in her family’s rich history in Arizona.  Her ancestors were among the first people to settle the Salt River Valley in the late 1800’s working alongside the Native Americans who educated them on farming in the desert.  Dixie was Ken & Leah’s eldest child, quickly followed by her brothers Phil, Keith and Hugh.  Dixie thought she was destined to be the only girl in a house full of boys until she finally got not one, but three little sisters, Brenda, Debbie and Connie Lynn.

Dixie attended Mesa High School and Graduated in 1949.  She was a majorette a.k.a. “Rabbette” for the marching band and loved her “Mesa Jackrabbits!”  After high school, she attended Lamson Business College and earned her Associate’s Degree in Business Administration. While at Mesa High she met her future husband, Arlo E. West.  Dixie and Arlo made their home in Arcadia (Phoenix) and went on to have five children:  Gerry Layne West, Rodney Earl West, Darla Dianne West-McMullen, Melinda Gayle West and Robert Lance West.

Dixie worked in the business world most of her adult life and took great pride in her contributions to the companies where she was employed. Her work experience included the Arizona Blood Bank, the Arizona Bank and Foxworth Galbraith Lumber Company.  Not one to change jobs very often, she was a longtime employee with each company.

Dixie had been a widow for a good number of years when she was re-acquainted with an old friend that she knew from Mesa High that was a widower as well.  Dixie married James “Gary” Feezor on July 17, 1992 and they made their home in Show Low on the Feezor Farm/Ranch.  Dixie described it as “heaven on earth.”  Interestingly enough, the Feezor Farm had once been owned by the Solomons (Dixie’s maternal side of her family) so she grew up visiting and playing on the very ranch that became her new home.  The ranch was a perfect place for Dixie as she was a proficient gardener and there wasn’t a flower ever created that she didn’t love.  The summer monsoon rains were a favorite for her.  She looked so forward to the rain and thunder up in the mountains because she knew that with any luck a rainbow would soon follow; rainbows were at the top of her “favorites” list.  Dixie and Gary were blissfully married until his death in 2007.  They were a match made in heaven and were adored by their family.  Dixie always called Gary her “Knight in Shining Armor”.

One of Dixie’s greatest passions in life were her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She delighted in their every achievement and was affectionately called “Granny Goose” or “Goosie” for short.  There wasn’t a birthday, holiday or special occasion that she ever missed and was always up for an adventure with her kids and grandkids.   Whether it was traveling to a foreign country or going fishing, she could always be counted on for fun and enthusiastically enjoying time spent with her loved ones.

Dixie loved God the Father and his son Jesus Christ and was very involved with and loved her church family.  She had a strong testimony of her faith which lasted throughout her lifetime.  

For all who had the pleasure of knowing her, I think we can all agree that the words Bright as Sunshine, Fun Loving, Charming, Gracious, Kind and Beautiful were how she could be described best.  One of Dixie’s most amazing qualities was her positivity and ability to keep smiling through not only the good times in her life but the sad times as well.  She would say that laughter through tears was one of her favorite emotions.  We will dearly miss her infectious personality, quick-witted humor and dazzling smile.

Dixie is preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth “Ken” Dana & Leah Solomon Dana; sister, Connie Lynn Dana; husband, James “Gary” Feezor; son, Gerry Layne West; daughter, Darla Dianne West-McMullen; daughter Laurie Robertson; granddaughter, Shannon Green and great-granddaughter, Haylee Smith.

She is survived by her siblings: Phil (Dolores) Dana, Keith (Corrine) Dana, Hugh (Carol) Dana, Brenda (Mel) Sprague and Debbie (Craig) Cardon.  Her children: Rod West, Melinda West, Robert (Dayna) West and Mac (Kristine) Feezor.  Her Grandchildren:  Christoper West, Stephen (Emma) West, Aaron (Melissa) West, Shane (Mysti) Riley, Mandy (Brandon) Montierth, Macey (Jeremy) Martinez, Hayden (Natalie) West, Chandler “Zane” (Ali) West, Bailee (Michael) Oborn, Kash West, Katherine (Jonathan) Earl, Michael (Megan) Feezor, Stefanie (Michael) Smith, Kimberly (Mathew) Gartner and 37 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held 11:30 A.M. Saturday, July 28, 2018 at the Love Lake Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 700 East Love Lake Road, Taylor, Arizona. Interment will follow in the Reed Hatch Memorial Cemetery in Taylor.