Carolen “Dixie” Dollison Shackelford, 76, of Fairmont, passed away Sunday, June 2, 2019, at her residence.
She was born Dec. 15, 1942, in Fairmont, a daughter of the late Ralph Richard and Shirley Currey Dollison.
She is survived by her husband of 28 years, Mike Shackelford, whom she married March 16, 1991.
Dixie was a graduate of Stuart Hall in Staunton, Va. She received her undergraduate in Art from UNC Womens’ College and her masters in psychology from Bowie State University in Maryland. She had been a school teacher in Illinois and Maryland and then began her work in psychology at the Crownsville State Hospital in Maryland and later at Chestnut Ridge Hospital in Morgantown.
Dixie was proud of her hand work and was a talented and prolific quilter and knitter. She loved to cook and shared the fruits of her garden and her labor with anyone she met. Dixie and Mike’s joy was fishing together in Ontario, Canada. At the home they built together, they took in many a stray animal. Dixie was a wise and caring person. She taught strength and compassion, but didn’t “suffer fools.”
Dixie’s family would like to thank all of their family and friends for the kindness and care they shared throughout Dixie’s illness.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by her children, Jean R. and her husband, Bob Link, of Washington, D.C., Currey and her husband, Ken Fountain, of Orange, Va., Rich and his wife, Kristen Hill, of Neptune Beach, Fla., Amy Shackelford and her husband, Michael Whitten, of Fairmont, and Steven Shackelford and his wife, Michelle Slack, of Washington, D.C.; her grandchildren, Seri and her husband, Sam Anderson, Sam Link and his fiancé, Lydia Meyer, Sophi Link, Sebastian Hay, Lucy Hay, Mick Hay, Emza Shackelford and Brynnah Shackelford; and her great-grandson, Arthur Finn Anderson. She is also survived by her siblings, FiFi and her husband, Charlie Reese, of Fairmont, K.C. and her husband, Bob VanGilder, of Fairmont, Dolly and her husband, Lee Dunnam, of Maitland, Fla., Chud and his wife, Nancy Dollison, of Charleston, and Doug and his wife, Sarah Dollison, of Grosse Pointe, Mich.; her former spouse, Dr. Hoyle D. Hill; and many nieces and nephews.
Dixie was preceded in death by her cousins, Pete Dollison and Nancy Gorman. During her illness, she was looking forward to reuniting with her Nana Currey and her Aunt Jean.
Memorial donations may be made to Bowie State University, 14000 Jericho Park Road, Bowie, MD 20715-9465 or 1-877-77-BOWIE.
According to her wishes, cremation services will take place and family committal services will be held privately. The family has entrusted Ford Funeral Home, 201 Columbia St., Fairmont, with her arrangements.
Condolences: fordfuneralhomes.com
