Horace was the youngest of four children born to the union of Willie Marie and Memphis Dickey, Sr. on March 18, 1948 in Cleveland, Texas. Horace was preceded in death by his Mother, Father, Brother, Memphis Dickey, Jr., and sisters Clese Mae Dickey-Woods, and Margarett Dickey-Woods.
Horace was “born again” when on September 29, 2015 he was baptized by Associate Pastor Eric Petty of Bammel Church of Christ. He always knew and loved the Lord but he formalized that profession of faith on that wonderful day.
Horace graduated from Douglass High School in Cleveland, Texas in 1966. A gifted athlete, Horace ran track, played basketball (specializing in three-point shots before they existed), and played football (quarterback position). Upon completion of high school, Horace went on to Prairie View A & M University for 2 ½ years continuing to play football as the team quarterback. He was a great dancer and someone who enjoyed a good time. He loved music and many hours were spent at home on his beloved patio listening to “old school” music. He was especially fond of Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Nancy Wilson, Sam Cooke and Phyllis Hyman. He also loved live jazz.
Anyone who knew Horace knew that after the love of God and his family, the Dallas Cowboys were held in very high esteem. One year he even had season tickets for the Cowboy games commuting to and from Spring without missing a home game that season. For more than twenty years he attended the Cowboys’ Thanksgiving games regardless of the weather. He loved to watch sports and for many years attended the state high school basketball playoffs in Austin, Texas taking various family members (son, grandsons, and young men he thought of as sons). He had a special love for young people and people with mental health issues working as a psychiatric technician and later after completing the Harris County Sheriff’s Department Academy, as a deputy on the jail psychiatric evaluation unit. He went on to patrol with the Sheriff’s Department, but he never sought a position higher than Master Patrolman because he always wanted to have contact with people. He was a people person; each person he spent time with knew how much he valued them. He was full of mischief and laughter and it is hard to think about him without seeing his award winning smile and remembering a funny anecdote.
Now that he has gone on to heaven we are left with less joy. Left to mourn his transition to glory are his wife, Serita; his children, Wayne Dickey (Jennifer); Nikita Dickey-Sample (Derek); and a young man who thought of him as a father, Jonathan Harris (Cynthia). He is mourned by his grandchildren: Torrey Dickey (Christian); Cameron Dickey; Jaela Dickey; Raeven Sample, and Jarred Sample and one great-grand daughter, Camilia Dickey. He is also mourned by a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, life-long friends, Class of 1966 Douglass Dragons, law enforcement family friends , and neighbors of more than 20 to 30 years who became family.
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