Polly Dixon

Polly Dixon, age 90, of Houston, Texas passed away on Saturday, July 9, 2022. Polly was born June 14, 1932.

Polly “Mema” Dixon was born in Sylvester, Georgia to Robert Onslow Dixon and Nina Pauline Brown. In 1939 Polly and family relocated to Nederland, Texas so that her father could begin a new job with the Sabine Towing Company. During her high school years at Nederland High School (go Bulldogs!) she became very active in school extracurricular activities and is where she discovered her love for the French Horn in the school’s marching band. After graduation she attended Secretarial Business School in Port Arthur, Texas. It was there where she received her certification which began her long and illustrious career as a Medical Secretary Administrative Assistant at the VA Hospital in none other than Houston, Texas. She excelled in her career until her retirement in 1992 and was fortunate to have the opportunity to work alongside renowned heart surgeon, Dr. Michael DeBakey.

Polly met her best friend and partner in life, Howard Haworth Sr in 1979, and they married on January 17, 1987. They became avid birders and enjoyed traveling around the world to add to their bird-sighting list. They especially enjoyed birding in East Africa, where they were privileged to see the mountain gorillas in Rwanda. Polly’s birding travels brought her far and wide – whether it was with Howard on Attu Island in Alaska or spotting a rare “life list” bird on her own in Doha, Qatar. Polly had many hobbies outside of birding as well – she was an avid genealogist connecting her family back to their ancestral roots, notably tracing them back to the Cameron Clan of Scotland. She was also very active with the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution), known as the Sunshine Lady for the Alexander Love Chapter, alongside other family members who shared her passion.

Polly was born to be a loving wife and mother, as well as a remarkable grandmother to all of her precious angels, as she called them. Her light and love were contagious to anyone who was in her presence, but especially with her family whom she loved so dearly. She always went above and beyond to make others smile and feel welcomed, especially in her loving home where everyone would gather for birthdays, holidays and special events. Playing Balderdash and Scrabble, stories of her birding trips, fresh German chocolate cake, ice cold cream sodas, lawn games in the backyard –amongst the many fond memories in Polly’s home. The family feels so fortunate that they were able to celebrate her 90th birthday just before her passing, surrounded by the family and friends she loved so much.

She is survived by her brother Raymond Dixon (Donna); her children, Susan York, Cathy Nichols (Jerry), Carolyn Dasher (Gregg) and Margaret Haworth Gable; her grandchildren (“Memas’s precious angels”) Megan, Kelli, Erica, Elise, Joey, Logan and Cameron; her great-grandchildren Emma, Ava, Brooks, Brett, and Brinley; and her many cherished nieces and nephews.

She is predeceased by her sweetheart husband Howard, beloved son John Schmidt Jr., brother Charles Dixon, sister Jaunice Dixon Collier and John Schmidt Sr., the father of her four children. Polly will be the light that forever lives within us all as our guardian angel, and she will be greatly missed.

A visitation for Polly will be held Monday, July 25, 2022 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home, 6900 Lawndale Street, Houston, TX 77023. A memorial service will occur Monday, July 25, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, 6900 Lawndale Street, Houston, TX 77023.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ForestParkLawndaleFH.com for the Dixon family.