Mostly Clear, 49° F
Our beautiful Dixie Edna (Keele) Davis went home to be with our Lord on July 8, 2022, in her home after two months of hospice care. She lived the best life imaginable while she was here. It was filled with love and so much fun!
Dixie was born on Dec. 8, 1936, in Salina, Utah, to Edna Ward and Thomas Keele.
The family relocated to southern California when Dixie was 6 years old. She was the quintessential California girl with her beautiful blonde hair and tanned skin. When Dixie was a teenager she decided to skip church one Sunday with some of her girlfriends. It was on that day that she met a handsome Navy sailor named Larry. It was love at first sight for Dixie and Larry!
After he shipped out again, the two corresponded for nine months through mail. Two weeks after Larry returned to California, she became his beloved bride. “Darlin Dixie” is what he called her. Larry and Dixie had an inspired fairy tale kind of love and were completely devoted to each other until the very end. They were married for 66 wonderful years, and to this union three sons were born: Lawrence Everett III, and twins Scott Lee and Dean Leon.
Dixie was the best mom to her sons. When Larry III was a youngster, she was his Cub Scouts den mother. She always had an interest in what her kids were doing. Dixie also worked for an orthodontist supply company, and later on she owned a successful house cleaning business in California.
In addition to her many interests and talents, Dixie was an avid musician and songwriter. She and Larry wrote several songs together. She played bass guitar and was a vocalist. Their song, “Mental Cruelty,” was covered by Buck Owens and Rose Maddox and rose to the #1 spot on the billboard music charts. Dixie and Larry formed the band Nashville West in1971, and they toured the western U.S., Canada, and Alaska for five years. They were later inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
Dixie’s greatest accomplishment was, of course, her adoring family. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, sister, and aunt, but she was truly mom to all of us. She was so full of love and was truly the matriarch of our loud bunch! Her favorite room in the house was, of course, her kitchen. She was there daily making meals for all of us. It wasn’t uncommon to have neighbors and friends gathered around the table, as she always made enough for an army. Sometimes she would sing to us as she cooked. She truly had the voice of an angel! Dixie absolutely loved family gatherings and was a big fan of parties. At Larry and Dixie’s 45th wedding anniversary, they threw a big celebration and did so thereafter every five years. There was music, dancing, and of course, lots of food! She was so much fun and lived life to the fullest!
Dixie was quite a woman, fiercely independent, hard working, loving, and so beautiful! Grandpa Larry could never resist his beautiful blonde bombshell! She was a Christian and loved God very much. Every morning you could find her and Larry watching Shepherd’s Chapel together and learning the gospel. Dixie truly brought life and color to our world. For those of us who loved her so much, we are sad and realize that it will never be the same now that she’s gone. We are comforted that she is with God and is reunited with her beloved Larry. She is at peace now and is home.
Dixie was preceded in death by her husband, Larry, and her grandson James.
She is survived by sons, Larry (Nancy), Scott and Dean; niece Victoria (Bill); grandkids Angel (Carl) Olson, Mandi (Mike) Gratzmiller, Dixie, Larry (Megan), Scottie (Wayne) Mathis; Megan (Cory) Davis, Dean and Ben; great-grandkids Leif (Emily), Avrianna, Gabrielle, Angelina, Paisley, Ivy, Gavin, Ezra, Noah, Elias, Micah, and great-great granddaughter, Elianna.
