Dixie Rae Mickel Sperry
It is an honor for me, Lynda Jo Sperry, to share my mother’s life story. Dixie Rae Mickel was born October 11, 1938 in Spring City, Utah. Her parents, Dortha and Harold Michel welcomed their third child following Boyd (Karen) and LaNae (Jean), and followed up with Beverly (Ruell) a few years later. The four siblings grew up herding sheep, milking cows, planting and growing their garden, running to the outhouse, and having a true rural Utah childhood. Dixie met her lifelong BFF Rochelle Sorenson (Joe) in kindergarten, and their family was my introduction to the concept of the family you choose. Dixie and Rochelle navigated school side by side as cheerleaders, student body officers, and all-around hell-raisers. After graduating from North Sanpete in 1956, Dixie moved to Montana then Colorado working odd jobs, including a stint as a stewardess. She loved traveling and this gave her the means to explore.
That was until she met Garn Sperry (2026-2011) and her jet setting days were over and her chapter as wife and mother began in 1968. She was an amazing mother and drove me to endless singing, dancing, softball, piano, camps, sleepovers, and cousin get togethers. She was so good at being the soccer mom, she made it to the Olympics and Paralympics. She volunteered at the dorms to get the athletes up, fed, and on the right bus. It was one of her favorite memories. She volunteered for many other organizations, including Foster Care, Make a Wish, Easter Seals, March of Dimes, Alzheimer’s Association, and others I can’t remember.
Because the universe decided Garn and Dixie could only have one biological child, they set out to ensure I did not grow up alone. There were grandparents, cousins, and friends at my house all the time. We hosted holiday dinners, birthdays, BBQs, and any excuse to have a party. And that always included decorating the house for whatever event or holiday was coming up. There were more times than not that the spare bedroom was being used for a cousin to go to school, foreign exchange student, grandparent, or friend. Some of the people that she called family include the Swedes, Asa and Elin; the grandsons, Nik, Travis, and Blake; greats, Jax, Kaden, Hailey, Sofi, Cecilia, Furio, Louis, and so many other neighborhood kids. She loved all of you.
She had an amazing group of friends, the Ditzy Chicks, who worked and played together for many years. They would gather to play cards, golf, ski, or attend a play. She loved them and they were each other’s support during good times and bad.
At the end of her amazing life, she developed Alzheimer’s Disease and we watched her spirit decline. It has been a sad and difficult journey and she just didn’t want to let go until the very end. I want to thank all of the kind and generous staff at Good Life Senior Living in Mt. Pleasant. She kept them on their toes as she kept trying to excape. They allowed her to keep her dignity by having her help with dinners, dishes, and feeling needed and necessary. Dixie and Barb became great friends and were good company for each other.
We will all miss her, but she and Garn are finally together again. We will celebrate her life at the old elementary in Spring City on February 11 anytime from 2-6 for an open house. Please write up your favorite Dixie stories and we will read them, sing a few songs, and enjoy each other’s company.