Dixie Mae Rehms
8/24/1934 - 11/6/2016

Dixie M. Rehms, 82, of Lake Jackson went home to be with her Lord and Savior on November 6, 2016. Dixie was born August 24, 1934 to Benjamin and Toney Rehms in Hempstead, TX. Dixie was the youngest of seven children. She graduated from Hempstead High School in May of 1951 and had no trouble deciding which college to attend. Two of her older sisters had graduated from Southwest Texas and were both teachers and she wanted to follow in their footsteps. While attending college, she worked for the Dean of the College as a student secretary and this job convinced her that she would never be happy behind a typewriter. After her college graduation in 1955, she began her teaching career at Lake Jackson Primary School, which later became Elisabet Ney Elementary. Under the guidance of Mrs. Madge Griffith, she learned what true dedication and professionalism really meant. Dixie had 35 third graders that first year and shared the cafeteria with another teacher who also had 35 third graders with nothing but a 6 ft. plywood wall separating them. Dixie spent her entire 46 year career at Elisabet Ney Elementary, teaching third grade for 14 years and fourth grade for 32 years. In the summers Dixie would return to Southwest Texas for six weeks while she worked on her Master's Degree in Education which she completed in August of 1960. Her brother-in law, then a principal, tried to convince her to get her Master's in counseling or supervision, but she couldn't imagine not being a classroom teacher, she felt that was her true calling and she dedicated her life to her students and B.I.S.D. In the summer of 1962 she began her 28 year coaching career with the Lake Jackson Girls Softball Association. Coaching gave her an entirely different environment to work with children outside of the classroom setting. On September 28, 2016, Elmcroft Senior Living organized Dixie's Second Wind Dream of "coaching one more time". The Lake Jackson Girls Softball Association, and Lake Jackson Mayor, Joe Rinehart, a former student, honored her by proclaiming it Dixie Rehms Day. Numerous ex-players, fellow coaches, and umpires were in attendance to watch her "coach" one more game. Shortly after arriving in Lake Jackson in 1955, Dixie joined the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Jackson where she remained an active member until her death. She served as a Sunday school teacher, helped with Vacation Bible School and served on numerous committees throughout the years. Memorial services will be held on Thursday, November 10, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Lake Jackson, 102 Yaupon, Lake Jackson, Texas, with Rev. Dr. Alan P. Trafford officiating. Prior to the service, family and friends will receive guests in the Fellowship Hall from 3:00-4:45 p.m. Private burial will be held at The City of Hempstead Cemetery at a later date. Dixie is preceded in death by her parents, five siblings, and several nieces and nephews. She is survived by her sister, Lee Rehms, and numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank Elmcroft Senior Living for the exceptional care and love that she received over the last year and a half and A-MED Hospice for the care they provided at the end of her life. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Presbyterian Church of Lake Jackson at 102 Yaupon, Lake Jackson, TX 77566 or BISD Education Foundation at PO Drawer Z, Freeport, TX 77542. Services are under the direction of Lakewood Funeral Chapel, 98 N. Dixie Drive, Lake Jackson, TX. Online condolences may be made at lakewoodfuneralchapel.com

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