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Well done, Nell
Much like the columns she wrote in The Fort Scott Tribune for many years, Nell Dikeman connected with people.
Dikeman, a longtime journalist and columnist for the Tribune, died Monday, Aug. 7, at her home. She is remembered by her friends, family and former coworkers as a woman of strong faith, a hard worker, a teacher and mentor, and most importantly, a friend.
Nell’s obituary was published in the Aug. 9 edition of the Tribune.
Longtime friend Barbara Albright said Nell and Albright’s mother, the late Betty Hixon, were lifelong friends.
“We lost a wonderful friend with the passing of Nell,” Albright said. “Along with my family, I have numerous lifelong memories of the vivacious Nell Dikeman who would light up a room with her good humor, contagious smile and personalized stories. I would smile when Nell and my mother would proudly refer to themselves as the ‘older downtown ladies’ working well into their 80s in their chosen professions. There was never a doubt Nell loved us all – her family, her church family, her Tribune family, her neighbors and friends, and her readers. All I can say is, lucky us to have known Nell.”
Christy Allmond, former Tribune employee, has a special memory of Nell from a few years ago when the Tribune celebrated Newspaper Appreciation Week by hosting a cookout at the former Tribune offices. Nell drew in many people to the event, and even a few new subscribers. It was an example of the effect Nell had on people in the community.
“Nell was the popular girl, because everybody knew her,” Allmond said. “Everybody stopped to talk to Nell. She knew everybody. And she was like a grandma in the office.”
Former Tribune employee Sara Simonds remembers Nell as a caring person who always showed an interest in the lives of people she was close to.
“She was a very special lady,” Simonds said. “She always spoke her mind. You could always count on knowing exactly what she thought … She was just a lovely, very caring woman and always interested in everything Daniel (Simonds’ husband) and I were doing in our fostering and kids in our house, and always very interested in knowing about that.”
A few years ago, with her health deteriorating, Nell’s son, Don Dikeman, brought Nell to the Tribune office, as he did on many occasions, following a doctor’s appointment to see everyone in the office.
“We all trailed out to say ‘hi’ to her,” Simonds said. “Not everybody gets a reception like that.”
Tribune Office Manager Teresa Klumpp has some fond, humorous memories of Nell, who once shared a special tradition with a former Tribune associate.
“She (Nell) tried to put me in line with her cane,” Klumpp said. “She always called our separate office the ‘Devil’s Playground.’ She and Clara Campbell (former Tribune advertising consultant) shared a birthday bow that was passed around.”
While Nell had her mischievous, ornery side, she also had a lasting impact on her Tribune family.