Mrs. Dixie Lou Henderson

Mrs. Dixie Lou Henderson, 83, of Galesburg, Illinois, entered the gates of Heaven on December 27, 2021 at 10:33 p.m., in Galesburg.

Dixie was born on January 6, 1938, in Macomb, Illinois, as the daughter of Carroll Wyvern and Martha Jane (Green) Mason. Along the way, she brought into this world three beautiful children, Pamela Sue (Fields) Purdy of Florida, Raymond Carroll Fields of Saginaw, Texas, and Jeffrey Allen Fields of Keller, Texas. She is also survived by her sister Edith “Edie” Swearington of Lewistown, Illinois, 5 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Arven “Ritchey” Mason, and Charles “Bud” Mason.

She grew up receiving her education in California and graduated in 1955, going on to further her education in multiple fields of work such as a Certified Mechanic, a CNA at Rosewood Care Center, an outstanding waitress, manager, and restaurant owner, a School Bus Driver, and was self employed at the Salvage Yard. Dixie was never someone to settle in one spot, she was always moving around and finding other traits to master. She traveled with a carnival that she was working for and has lived in several areas in the country from Florida to Texas, to Arizona, and California, eventually making her way back to Galesburg.

Dixie was a beautiful person inside and out, she always managed to find the beauty and good in life, making sure that everyone she came across would feel a little bit better after spending time with her. Dixie smiled with her whole face and could light up a room the minute she walked in. She always went out of her way to take care of others and continuously shined her kindness and generosity onto anyone that was a part of her life. She always had a story to tell with her creative imagination, and Dixie was always dancing to her own beat weather it was 50’s-60’s music, or Country/Western, there was never a dull moment when she was around. She also enjoyed mastering many hobbies such as crocheting, oil painting, cooking casseroles and pie crusts, but nothing beat her homemade Christmas Candies, Divinity’s! Although, when she was with family and friends, she enjoyed playing Yahtzee and Scrabble, but occasionally went to her favorite slot machines to gamble in her free time. She lived an extraordinarily colorful lifestyle with endless memories! She will be dearly missed by many but her original stories will be remembered forever by the ones that had the pleasure in listening to them.

Cremation will be accorded. No services have been planned. Memorial contributions in Dixie’s memory may be made out to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Services in Galesburg is honored to serve the family. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mrs. Dixie Lou Henderson, please visit our floral store.