From her killer strokes on the tennis and pickleball courts to an unexpected stroke while managing a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, Dixie Dexter had the last ride of her life to El Paso and passed away on December 30, 2023.  And what an amazing ride it was…

She was born Dixie Lynn Grieve on August 7, 1942, in Los Angeles, California to Ivan and Hattie (Southard) Grieve, little sister to Ronnie.  Growing up in Pasadena she was always surrounded by people and life was filled with family, friends, fun and adventure.  In school, Dixie excelled in academics and loved her extracurricular activities.  Sunday potluck dinners, weekend camping, and summer trips back to her parents’ hometown of Iola, Kansas, were the building blocks of her youth.  In high school, she met the man who would become her beloved husband of nearly 63 years, Doug Dexter, and still kept her focus enough to graduate salutatorian from Pasadena High School in 1960.  

In the early years of marriage, Dixie pursued her schooling while being the young corporate wife and raising three kids amidst moves from Southern to Northern California.  It took a decade, but she proudly graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology. Dixie now had time for other pursuits and would start her lifelong love of tennis, both playing and watching, either way adding her own colorful commentary. 

A job relocation for Doug would move the family back to Southern California where Dixie continued as a homemaker, PTA mom, and played competitive tennis at Tustin Hills Racquet Club.  She expanded her volunteer work and helped co-found the Tustin chapter of American Association of University (AAUW) and did fundraising for Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) Jack & Jill Chapter.  She decided to start a career in real estate and was a top producer in her first few years, becoming the in-house realtor for Suzuki Corporation in addition to her many clients.  During this time, it was Dixie’s prompting to visit Mexico on a cruise which would lead to the family’s annual trips to Puerto Vallarta. In between work and travel, she was usually busy planning some epic gathering for family or friends.

She became enamored with the Mexican culture and began studying Spanish at the community college.  Dixie also found out about the Feldenkrais Method®, that gave her relief from pain after a couple of car accidents and more importantly, got her back on point with her tennis game.

Dixie was ready when another life pivot happened that took Doug’s work just South of the Border near Rosarito Beach.  She was able to practice Spanish, play tennis, and entertain in between Feldenkrais training segments in San Diego. Just after the training ending in 1996, Dixie applied and (surprise!) got hired as an extra on the Titanic movie being filmed nearby.  She started a small Feldenkrais practice in Mexico and began commuting back to Orange County as work expanded. Dixie continued her work and caregiving for her parents until she and Doug made the move to Silver City, New Mexico, in 2008 where they immediately got involved with the Western Institute for Lifelong Living (WILL), Back Country Horsemen (BCH), and later Dixie joined the WACKYs as well as the 24 Club.  She continued playing tennis and added Saturday morning pickle ball to the mix when she wasn’t volunteering, teaching a class, seeing private clients, traveling, cooking up something in the kitchen, watching the deer cross the yard, or walking the dogs on the “poop loop” of the driveway.

Dixie is survived by her husband of 63 years, immediate and extended family, her loyal dog Kachina as well as hundreds of adoring friends, clients, and Feldenkrais colleagues around the world.

One of her favorite sayings was, “Leap and the net will appear.” We imagine her parents, brother, Aunt Velma, and other family and friends on the other side were right there to support her fall into the next funner place.

Dixie touched so many people in many ways.  Honor her by finding inspiration and fun in every day:  raise a coffee, wine or tequila tonic (if you imbibe), learn something new, read a book, dance in the aisles of TJ Maxx, ride the shopping cart to your car, say “hi” to a stranger, dress the part for whatever you’re doing, and find what tickles your funny bone and gives meaning to your life.

In lieu of flowers (though she loved them), you can make a donation in her name to the Feldenkrais Educational Foundation of North America (FEFNA)  https://fefna.org /

We will celebrate Dixie’s life in May.  

Please contact Cassie Carver for details:  call/text 575-313-0308 or email:  cassiedrealtor@gmail.com .

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