Thyra Varrick Diemer Dixon

Thyra Varrick Diemer Dixon died Saturday, May 1, 2010, at the age of 91. Thyra was born February 7, 1919, on the Diemer Farm on the banks of the Brazos River in Waller County, Texas. Thyra was the fourth and final child of Brick P. and Dora Thaemer Diemer. She was welcomed by her sister Elizabeth and brothers Ted and Upton ("Bully"). Thyra graduated from Sealy High School and attended Texas State College for Women in Denton. Thyra married Richard Vincent ("R.V.") Dixon on November 20, 1943, in Childress, Texas. She raised their three children, Carol, Robert, and Cassie, while her husband traveled the country working for an oil company. Around the age of 40, Thyra moved home to the Brazos Bottom to help care for her mother and run the family farm. Miss Tiny was a natural cattlewoman and farmer. She single-handedly ran the farm, growing cotton and corn, raising cattle, and making hay, just like her daddy had done. Of course, she had farm hands to assist her, many of whom were descendants of her daddy's farm hands. Everyone loved working for Miss Tiny because she never asked anyone to do something that she herself wouldn't do. She was always out in the fields working, never just sitting in the house giving orders. Late 1978 brought tremendous change to Thyra's life. Within a six-week period, her first grandchild was born and her only son died. Shortly thereafter, her husband retired and came home to run the farm. Miss Tiny became "Momma T" or "Mama T," a lady who rarely ventured out of her family home unless it was for a family function. Thyra died Saturday, May 1, 2010, in the home that her daddy built. She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings; son Robert Diemer Dixon; and son-in-law Craig J. Dickson. She is survived by her husband of 66 years; her daughters Carol Dixon Gostecnik and husband Gary; and Cassie Dixon Dickson; granddaughters Dora Ann Gostecnik and Rachel Dickson Kellner and husband Charles; great-grandson Dixon Charles Kellner; adopted son Stephen R. Major, and numerous nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her loving caregivers: Betty, Christine, Dorothy, Hattie, Patti, Vera, and Wilma, and the wonderful staff at Hospice Brazos Valley. The family will be present to receive friends from 5-7 P.M., on Thursday, May 6, 2010, at the Schmidt Funeral Home in Brookshire. A Memorial Service will be held at 11 A.M., on Friday, May 7, 2010, at the Schmidt Funeral Home. Pursuant to her request, Thyra was cremated. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to: Hospice Brazos Valley, 302 East Blue Bell Road, Brenham, Texas 77833 or the Pattison Area Volunteer Fire Department, P. O. Box 442, Pattison, Texas 77466.