Dixie Diane Hixon

Dixie Diane Hixon

Dixie Diane Hixon, age 55, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed from this life, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, at the Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott. She was born March 13, 1959, in Fort Scott, the daughter of William L. Gates, Jr. and Dixie Auluwee Dill Gates. Diane graduated from Fort Scott Christian Heights. She married Denton Hixon on April 14, 1989. They were later divorced. Diane had been employed as an administrative assistant for Cigna Life Insurance Company for over 20 years. She enjoyed crocheting and going to the movies as well as listening to music especially, Barry Manilow and Garth Brooks. Above all, she enjoyed spending quality time with her daughter, DeAnn, her dog, Stevie and her family.

Survivors include two daughters, DeAnn Hixon and fiancé, Brandon Seamans, of Topeka and Dana (Button) Hixon, of Uniontown, Kan.; her father William "Bill" Gates, Jr., of Fort Scott; a brother, Randy Gates and Angela Bonner, Girard, Kan.; three sisters, Donna Smith, Debbie Stewart and Victoria Gates, all of Fort Scott. Also surviving is a special friend, Chris Lowry; two nephews, Nate Smith and Clayton Hixon; two nieces, Kayla Smith and Melissa Gates; a former brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Mike and Lori Hixon; and her beloved dog, Stevie Ray. She was preceded in death by her mother and a brother William L. Gates III.

Graveside services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 30 at the Evergreen Cemetery. Friends and family may meet at the Cheney Witt Chapel prior to leaving for the cemetery at 10:15 a.m. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to Fort Scott Christian Heights and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online memory wall at cheneywitt.com.