Irene Dixon of Du Quoin

DU QUOIN - M. Irene Dixon, 91, of Du Quoin, passed away at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 12, 2019 at her residence.

Irene had been owner and teacher for the Park-A-Tot Nursery School for 30 years. She began her career at Lower Arm School in 1946.

Irene graduated from Pinckneyville High School in 1945 and then graduated from SIU in the early 1950s. She also worked on a master's degree.

Irene was a member of the First Christian Church in Du Quoin, where she was a deacon and an elder. At the church, she was also President of C.W.F. and was in charge of the rummage sales.

She was also a member of the Marshall Browning Hospital Auxiliary, Perry County Historical Society, Perry County Jail Museum, Red Hat Society, Order of the Eastern Star, V.F.W. Auxiliary, and D.A.R. Irene was a founding member of the A-Wa-We-Go Camping Tribe and served as chaplain.

She was born Jan. 28, 1928 at Pinckneyville, the daughter of Roy Arkell and Carrie Gladys (Williamson) Pursell.

She married Curtis E. Dixon on March 8, 1952 in Pinckneyville, and he preceded her in death on Dec. 20, 1981.

Irene is survived by four children, Sue Dixon of Pinckneyville, Todd Dixon of Du Quoin, Clay (Evelyn) Dixon of Carterville, and Kent Dixon of Du Quoin; two sisters, Norma Jones of West Frankfort and Sharon Wright of Pinckneyville; three grandchildren, Seth (Nicole) Dixon of Du Quoin, Cory Dixon of New Baden, and Emily (Stephen) Crain of Chesterfield, Missouri; nine great-grandchildren, Collin Dixon, Kylie Dixon, Emmett Crain, Aiden Dixon, Matthew Rees, Michael Daniel, Makayla Davis, David Peters, Dayonna Peters and one on the way; and several nieces and nephews.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents; husband; three brothers, Carl Pursell, Ed Pursell and Wilford Andrew Pursell in infancy; two brothers-in-law, Kenneth Junior Jones and Stuart Wright; and three sisters-in-law, Isabelle Pursell, Theresa Pursell and Patricia Pursell.

Funeral services will begin at 10 a.m. Monday, March 18 at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin with David Gross officiating.

Friends may call from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Burial will be at the Sunset Memorial Park in Du Quoin.

Friends may make memorials to the Marshall Browning Hospital Tree of Life, First Christian Church in Du Quoin, or to a charity of the donor's choice. All gifts will be accepted at the funeral home.

For additional information or to sign the memorial guest register, visit www.searbyfuneralhomes.com.