James Ashford Hixon

James Ashford Hixon, age 98, passed away November 6, 2026 at DCH regional Medical Center. Services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, November 11, 2026 at Northport Baptist Church with Pastor John Jenkins officiating. Burial will follow in Memory Hill Gardens. The family will receive friends one hour prior to services at the church.

Mr. Hixon was preceded in death by his father, William “Bill” Hixon; mother, Lyle Beatrice Crane Hixon; and wife, Nell Patterson Hixon.

He is survived by his daughters, Perrie Ashley Hixon Tucker (Jeff) and Mary Beth Pitts (Tony); grandchildren, Joseph Mitchell Donaldson (Haley), James Lloyd Tucker, and Julia Laine Tucker; and great-grandchildren, Raelyn Claire Donaldson and Jackson Rhett Donaldson.

James Hixon turned 18 on a wooden minesweeper in the Pacific Ocean after months of begging his father to allow him to sign up to serve his country. His ship USS Osprey operated around Honshu, Japan near Nagoya and Kobe. Service also included getting marines safely onto islands such as Guam and Truck. He was invited into the home of Major General Ichiro Suzuki, whose son was an interpreter on the Osprey during repairs. After two years of service, Mr. Hixon returned to Alabama to finish high school and start college. He became a project manager for several civil engineering companies, first with, Woodward Iron Company in Birmingham where he met and married the love of his life Nell Patterson. The couple married on December 12, 1963. Mr. Hixon later worked for Rust International, Lenard B. Hebert in New Orleans, (today Professional Construction Services) and lastly, Burk-Kleinpeter, (BKI Tuscaloosa) up until the mid-2000s. Mr. Hixon and his family moved back to Alabama in 1985 after daughter Perrie graduated from high school. The family purchased a house on Lake Tuscaloosa, and enjoyed active membership at Northport Baptist Church, where Mr. Hixon spent many years serving as a Sunday School leader. Later, Mr. Hixon and Ms. Nell enjoyed a home on Belle Meade Drive in North Hampton. Mr. Hixon was part of a WWII Honor Flight to Washington D.C. in the mid-2000s. As a former WWII US Navy motor machinist mate, Mr. Hixon was honored as Grand Marshal of Northport's first Veteran's Day Parade on November 11, 2022. On Memorial Day 2024, on his 96th birthday, Mr. Hixon was interviewed after the Tuscaloosa Memorial Day ceremony by local news. Mr. Hixon was also recognized during the 2025 Tuscaloosa Veteran's Day ceremony where organizers highlighted a treasured piece of his service: a personal letter of commendation from President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the crew of the US Osprey for a hazardous task of clearing 37 minefields across the Pacific. Mr. Hixon was a mason for 43 years, loved his bass boat and loved to fish. He enjoyed cheering on the Crimson Tide by attending football and baseball games. For the past four years, Mr. Hixon lived at The Crossings at North River. He enjoyed a wonderful long life of 98 years and will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Pallbearers will be grandsons Mitch Donaldson and James Tucker, son-in-law Jeff Tucker, nephews Kirk Patterson and Glen Patterson, and dear friend Bill McDonald.

Honorary pallbearers are nephews Charles Patterson, Wayne Patterson and Ronnie Patterson, brother-in-law Kendal Patterson, and Jack Evans.

In lieu of flowers please donate in memory of James A. Hixon to the University of Alabama Military and Veteran initiatives through the UA Veteran and Military Affairs contribution portal or to Northport Baptist Church Mission Ministry through Northport Baptist Church Giving Portal.