Dixie Lee Gilhouse

Williamston

Dixie Lee Gilhouse, born May 29, 1935 to Theodore and Nora Hamann. Dixie loved to tell that she rode her tricycle to kindergarten 2 miles on a dirt road.

She married James Gilhouse on May 23, 1958.

Dixie was always a hard worker, she learned that growing up on the farm. Took up bookkeeping after high school and she retired from Williamston Schools payroll department after 16 years. Worked from home doing accounting for many others. Her last calling for accounting was at West Locke Wesleyan Church 2017. Dixie really loved the yard full of people, didn’t matter if it was cookouts or birthday parties, graduation celebrations, spontaneous reunions, get togethers or just grabbing a chair and appreciating a great conversation. Dixie loved looking at all her beautiful flowers that canvased the yard from spring to late fall, and checking the garden for veggies. When she wasn’t spending time with the friends and family she LOVED bowling! Nothing could interfere with bowling day. She fell in love with bowling in 1971, and even this year she bowled up to September 27, 2017. Talk about an amazing memory; Dixie remembered everybody’s birthday. She was happiest when she got to watch the kids play together in the yard and in the driveway, from the youngest to the oldest and that included her own two children. She loved summer because that meant you got to be outside more. However Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving are her favorites. The cooking, baking, counting over and over “Well now how many are coming for dinner?” she’d say! “Add a couple more plates, Cindy!” Buying, back to school shoes was her fun thing to do for the kids. She would take them out, one at a time when possible all of the grandkids and great-grandkids. Let them pick their shoes and take them where ever they wanted to go for lunch.

Family friends are important, and bible study became a very important part of her life. She so enjoyed everyone. And even at her church she loved cookie hour, making things for funerals, counting money, holding babies, greeting people at the door, and working the MSU football games. Anyway she could be of service she was proud to do. Although Dixie couldn’t whistle, she sure could hum a toon. Always humming, happily! She couldn’t swim either but she sure enjoyed the boat rides in Florida, and the special cruises her and dad took. Especially to Hawaii where dad could relive his Hiroshima adventure in the Navy. She loved going to the Friday night dinners where she would choke down some fried cod. She looked forward to Friday nights with her friends for dinners, even after dad passed on she continued her friendships with her Friday night dinner friends.

Mom and dad loved to travel together on bus tours, cruises, with friends. Her last trip was to Precious Moments Chapel, Grand Canyon, and Old Faithful this past September with Cindy, Scott and Tena. She enjoyed spending time visiting her Michigan snowbird friends. She was adventurous yet took to heart the more simple things like plays at the theaters, movie night at the Sun, Turkeyville dinner, and concerts in McCormic Park on summer nights, and dinners at the County Kitchen. She absolutely cherished her friends so very much. Christmas was Dixie’s production. All of her singing animals all over the house, she would put in batteries for hours. She loved the house so full of family. The feast, the presents and she was always Ms. Santa every year passing out present to everyone. You did not have to be biological to be part of the family tradition. She accepted everyone and their children, and even unexpected or unknown guests. Everyone was welcome in moms home. It truly was a home for everyone. Easter and Thanksgiving was a feast! Even the neighbors and friends that had no plans or no place to go came over and shared a meal, football games and some chitchat at the dining room table. Mom always had umbrellas, many, wherever she would go. She said she would melt if she got wet. She was sweet as sugar. If you have an umbrella of Dixie’s, keep it, use it, and remember her, and that she loved all of us. Dixie received seventy-three plus cards from well-wishers sending prayers and friendship. It covered her whole dining room table.

“Thank you for all the love you showed our mom..”

Preceded in death by her parents, Thedore and Nora Hamann; husband, James L. Gilhouse (2009); and brother, John Hamann. Surviving are her daughter, Cynthia “Cindy” Gilhouse-Smith, and son, Scott (Tena) Gilhouse; grandchildren; Jeff (Kim), Greg (Angela), Chris (Katie) Smith, Jessica, and Melissa Gilhouse, Amanda (Tyler) Shafer, Tyler (Larie) Horton, great-grandchildren; Hadey, Ronan, Oliver, Edison, Issac, Audrey, Brooke, and Remington Smith, Samual Hethorn, Michael Lee Leonard IV, and Tori Shafer, and a tremendous amount of loving friends to cherish her memory.

Funeral Services will be held Sunday, 12:30 p.m. November 5, 2017 at the West Locke Wesleyan Church, 2652 Haslett Road, Williamston, MI with Rev. Michael A. Black officiating. The family will receive friends Saturday, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. November 4, 2017 at the Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home, 205 E. Middle St., Williamston and one hour prior at the church.

Arrangements under the direction of Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, Williamston, MI.