Dixie Lee Sorensen was born on July 30, 1939 in Hollywood, California to Opie and Kathryn (Stein) Cates. She died on April 7, 2024 at her home in Sherwood, Arkansas surrounded by the love of her husband, children, grandchildren and sisters.
Dixie faced much adversity in her life suffering from severe Asthma and later COPD, but faced life with grace and positivity; and valued kindness in everything she did. She was always a force to be reckoned with, but offered an added touch of sweetness. Dixie Lee was always eager to learn a new hobby and had many. Her favorites were those she could do with friends, except for worm farming…she did that one solo!
After college, Dixie worked as an executive secretary and met her husband, Jerry Sorensen, at Whirlpool Corporation. They married in 1968 and were married for nearly 56 years. After being a homemaker and raising her family, she went back to work for the Michigan Public School System as a reading specialist in elementary education. After spending several years working in the special education department, she accepted the position of school secretary at Lincoln Elementary School in St. Joseph, Michigan where she became a “second mom” to thousands of students until her retirement 22 years later. After retirement, she loved traveling and seeing the world with her husband, visiting well over 30 countries.
Dixie’s family was her pride and joy. Time spent with them was her first love and true priority. They relocated to Hot Springs Village upon retirement to be closer to family throughout Arkansas. Whether watching her grandkids cheer, play football or baseball in North Little Rock, or watching her grandkids perform in theater and dance in Virginia or California, she was at her best when watching her grandkids thrive! She was an active member of Mountainside Methodist Church serving in many capacities as well as playing golf with her friends. She also enjoyed attending events with her husband in the Hot Springs Village Rotary Club. She is survived by her husband Jerry, her son and daughter-in-law, Garret and Katie Sorensen of North Little Rock, Arkansas, her daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and David Hummelberg of Corona Del Mar, California, seven grandchildren and one great granddaughter.
Dixie Lee is the first sibling to pass in the Opie Cates legacy. She is survived by her older brother, Robert Cates of Fort Smith, Arkansas and her younger sisters, Dinah May McCord of Fort Smith, Arkansas, Linda Lou Spradlin of Muldrow, Oklahoma, and Liza Jane Holman of Fort Smith, Arkansas. The family lived a life of fame and privilege in Hollywood, CA as they watched their father build his professional music career as a clarinetist and big band leader, often performing live at both the Hollywood Palladium and Hollywood Bowl. He also appeared on various radio shows, most notably, The Lum & Abner Show. Louis Armstrong and others were often jamming in their living room. In 1952, as TV became popular, Opie Cates decided to pivot from the music industry into the hard life of farming and cattle ranching. He moved their family to a small town in Oklahoma where Dixie’s life course was abruptly altered. She persevered and triumphed through adversity while maintaining a beautiful spirit and disposition; always one to offer a helping hand or kind word of encouragement.
Her long battle with Asthma/COPD is finally over, and though we will miss her dearly, we are comforted knowing she is with Jesus and no longer struggling for a breath. Her soul and memories will be with us in this life and beyond.
A celebration of life will be held on May 4, 2024 at the Mountainside Methodist Church in Hot Springs Village at 11am with visitation preceding at 10am. In lieu of flowers, a donation in Dixie Lee’s name may be made to Mountainside Methodist Church Memorial Garden or Hot Springs Village Rotary Club.
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