Dixie Lea Willats

Dixie Lea Willats

March 23, 1933- January 30, 2015

Services for Dixie Lea Willats, 81, will be Thursday morning February 5th at 10:00am at the Orchard Evangelical Free Church with Pastor Jim Reynolds officiating. Visitation will be from
5-7pm on Wednesday, February 4th at the church.

Dixie Lea Willats, daughter of Raymond Rosco and Tillie Evaline (Rhoades) Stevens was born on March 23, 1933 in Page, Nebraska. She graduated from Orchard High School in 1950. Furthering her education at the Nebraska State Teachers College at Wayne, she went on to teach
school in Middlebranch, Emporia, and Orchard Public.

Dixie was united in marriage to David L. G. Willats on November 17, 1956 in Orchard. To this union were born four children, two daughters and two sons.They lived north of Orchard. She attended the Orchard Evangelical Free Church and was active in women’s and mission
ministries. She also spent many years with the Gideons Women Auxiliary.

Dixie, 81, went to be with the Lord on January 30th at her home. She will be remembered for her gentle, sweet spirit and her love for Jesus. She enjoyed singing, spending time with her children and grandchildren, mission work, writing letters, gardening, raising chickens and eggs.

She is survived by her husband, David of 58 years; daughters Marjorie (and husband Charles)Cook of Verdigre, Linda (and husband Howard) Dashiell of Potter Valley, CA, and son Robert (and wife Vicki) Willats of Orchard. Also surviving are sisters, Patricia Snider of Norfolk and Sonja Holbrook of River Falls, WI, and 12 grandchildren.

Dixie was preceded in death by her parents, a son William, and two brother-in-laws.