George Constantine Dixie was born in Dallas, Texas, May 15, 1938, third child of Charles and Lucille (nee Wallace) Dixie. He was baptized at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church and will be buried in the same parish. He is survived by children Alexandria Eleni Paris, (Jason) Dallas; James Gardner, Austin; Gretchen Gardner, Austin; grandchildren Hudson, Eleni and Rhett Paris; brother Nickolas Dixie, Dallas; sister, Aglaia Mauzy, Dallas; nieces and nephews, Catherine Mauzy, Austin; Charles Mauzy, Dallas; James Mauzy, Dallas; Christa Butler, Gauze; and Nicole Aviles, Austin. He was preceded in death and beloved son, Charles Constantine Dixie.
George was an avid reader and family legend has it that he read the entire library of J.S. Hogg, his grade school alma mater in Oak Cliff. At Adamson High School he was class president and president of the debate club. Debate and family example led him to law school. He was one of the lucky ones who always knew what he wanted to be when he grew up.
George graduated from SMU with honors. Per his parents, living in a dorm was not a choice given a first generation Greek American. He carpooled daily with Aglaia, his sister and later law partner, to SMU from their Oak Cliff childhood home, arguing over who had to drive and who got to study. After graduation he started to Columbia Law School in New York City, then returned to Texas due to family responsibilities. He finished his law degree at the University of Texas Law School. Active in politics from an early age he was a member of the Young Democrats and went on to be an old one, attending hundreds of political events and being a delegate to a national Democratic convention.
George practiced law in Houston for 25 years then moved to Dallas. His desk and homes were riddled with yellow legal pads, pencils, pens and highlighters and scribbled law notes. He was board certified in personal injury and civil litigation. His knowledge of personal injury reached into his home with his many lectures to his children. A few of his mantras were: “Never ride a motorcycle,” “Never parasail in Mexico,” and “Never trust a pit bull.” They never asked why, knowing there was a bad story behind it.
As with everything, he always had a good sense of humor. He was the best at “Dad” jokes. After going bald in law school at a very young age (caused he said from olive oil poultices administered by his Greek aunts), he wore his baldness as a badge. One of his many jokes he used throughout life was, “Which side should I part my hair on?” He was referring to his single lone hair on the tip top of his head that would wave in the wind. Though color blind, he was always a snappy dresser, with sophisticated taste. He was known to dry many a child’s tears or help them blow their nose with the clean, white handkerchief he always carried.
In addition to being a voracious book reader, he also loved periodicals. The New Yorker came on Saturday and was read cover to cover on the same Saturday. The Texas Observer, New Republic and the local daily got the same treatment. He averaged reading about five books a week, but often bought and reread the same mysteries. This provided much family humor since he was oblivious of the duplication. George also loved movies. Much to his wives’ dismay, he would often shirk household duties and sneak out on Saturdays for a double matinee, going from one movie to another, even in the middle. His children loved to accompany “daddy” anywhere, even adult movies, and would often give their own hilarious takes on his choices, particularly those of Woody Allen.
George was a lifelong liberal which he attributed to going to his local public schools, where he knew students of all economic conditions. He was a strong supporter of civil rights and often picketed in school integration, anti-war demonstrations, and other causes. Despite growing up in a patriarchal household, he always supported women’s rights. When his son-in-law, Jason, living in New York City at the time, called to ask for Alex’s hand in marriage, he replied, “Sure, but isn’t that something you need to ask her, not me?”
He loved his family fiercely and was a wonderful father, brother and husband. In that most difficult of family roles, the stepparent, he also excelled. He treated his two stepchildren as his own with love and attention, and they reciprocated by considering him a second father. Later in life he found a new love in his grandchildren. He got much joy out of watching them grow up. He had the perfect chess playing relationship with Hudson, the oldest. Hudson was young and smart while George was not as quick as he once was with the onset of dementia. He joined the household for Sunday dinners regularly, and enjoyed the time spent with the grandchildren, reading to them and when they could later, letting them read to him. They also loved played hiding go seek with their Papou. And would giggle profusely when searching the house for them yelling, “Fi-Fi-Fo-Fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman.”
Even as Lewy Body Dementia ravaged his mind and body, George kept a positive attitude. Even as his words slowly left him, everyone who helped him would remark on what a kind, sweet and gentle man he was. He truly was generous in heart and spirit. Most importantly he was a wonderful father and a great human being.
Our wish for you, “May everyone who loved George remember why they loved him.”
Trisagion service will be Wednesday, 7 PM at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 13555 Hillcrest Rd, Dallas, TX 75240. Burial service will be Thursday at 10 AM Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church followed by lunch and burial to follow at Grove Hill Cemetery 3920 Samuell Blvd, Dallas, TX 75228. In lieu of flowers a memorial may be made to Holy Trinity Academy 972.490.7060, or the Lewy Body Dementia Association (404) 935-6444, 912 Killian Hill Road, S.W. Lilburn, GA 30047.
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