Dixie Lee Rogers, age 70, of La Porte, passed away on Thursday, January 22, 2015 at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka after surviving cancer for seventeen years.
Dixie was born in Beardstown, IL, on March 12, 1944 to Raymond L. and Winifred "Gerri" (Smith) Murphy.
On May 31, 2008, she married Ronald F. Rogers who survives. Also surviving are her beloved children, Michael (Miriam) Sullivan, Debra (Ricardo) Rodriguez, Ronald (Brenda) Sullivan, and Ralph (Carol) Gee, Jr., and Cathy Gee; grandchildren, Bridget, Shawn, Ralphy, Cindy, Mikey, and Maryssa; siblings, Linda (Mike) Dugger of Beardstown, IL, and Teresa (Richard) Walker of La Porte; as well as several step and half brothers and sisters.
She was preceded in death by her parent and husbands, Charles T. Shaw and Edward F. Harmond.
Dixie worked as head hostess for Rotary, Kiwanis, and Lions Club at the La Porte Holiday Inn for twenty years. She also worked as a cashier at Cannon's Automotive for eight years.
Through hardships and triumphs, Dixie held on to her never ending faith. She believed and trusted that God would lead the way. She was an angel among us as she helped mentor every cancer patient that she met. She gave people hope when they thought all hope was lost. Dixie loved being outdoors surrounded by God's beautiful creations. You could find Dixie out on the road riding her bike or cruising on her moped. She loved taking walks especially with all of her beloved "critters" at Luhr Park. Dixie loved taking pictures of anything and everything she saw. She always enjoyed gathering everyone together so she could take "selfies". She loved spending time with her family and the "critters" whom she loved so dearly. She hosted numerous holiday parties to ensure the whole family would be together. Her Mother's Day celebration honored the anniversary of her being a cancer survivor. Halloween was spent with her grand babies, and she put together a grand Christmas Eve celebration that was always joyous and filled with her love. Dixie was a hero in the eyes of all who knew her. She had a heart filled with hope, and she was an inspiration to many people. Her legacy will live on forever in the hearts of the lives that she touched. It's time to celebrate the life of a woman whose light shined brighter than the sun.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, January 26, 2015 at Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center with Rev. Larry D. Owen officiating. Burial will follow at Door Village Cemetery.
A time of visitation will be held from 2 - 6 pm on Sunday, January 25, 2015 and from 9 am until the time of service on Monday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the La Porte County Small Animal Shelter, 2855 W. SR 2, La Porte, IN 46350 or the American Cancer Society, 130 Red Coach Dr., Mishawaka, IN 46545.
Condolences may be shared with the family online at www.cutlerfuneralhome.com.