Dixie Mae Moorshead Edwards
Dixie Mae Moorshead Edwards was born Jan. 17, 1941, to George C. and Ruth F. Moorshead at Breckenridge, MO. Dixie was the second of four children. She passed away Aug. 5, 2016, at St. Joseph Mercy Health Center in Ann Arbor, MI, after a valiant fight against her life-ending illness.
Dixie moved from Breckenridge to Kidder at the age of five. Dixie graduated from Kidder High School as Valedictorian of her class of 1959. Then she graduated in 1961 from Draughon’s College of Commerce in Kansas City.
Dixie was raised on the family registered Guernsey dairy farm. Her family showed cattle in competition at fairs and the American Royal in Kansas City. As a 4-H Club member, she won many ribbons at the annual County 4-H Exhibition Day Competition. Dixie was an outdoor girl and played on the high school’s first basketball team.
Dixie was raised Methodist in the small, rural Barwick Methodist Church. She sang in the youth choir and attended Sunday school and church. After moving to Ann Arbor, MI in 1964, Dixie was active in the First United Methodist Church. She was involved in the youth programs there and met another member working with the church’s youth named John (Jack) Barnett Edwards. They married on May 6, 1972. They have spent the remainder of their married lives working with the youth in the church, and Troop #4 Boy Scouts. Dixie was a youth counselor for more than 50 years. Dixie and Jack were recruited by the Rev. Ken Cowing to work with the church’s youth during the tumultuous 60’s. Dixie continued working with youth until just a couple of years ago and has influenced the faith development of hundreds of young people. She also taught Sunday school, participated in many outreach and mission programs, and was a faithful supporter of music and education. Dixie officially joined Troop 4 as an Assistant Scoutmaster as soon as BSA National welcomed women as registered leaders (1972). Dixie was the only female Scoutmaster in Troop 4’s 100 year history. Dixie participated in ten mission trips to Meru, Kenya. Dixie worked teaching computer skills to high school students at BLISS (Bishop Lawi Immathieu Secondary School). During the last three mission trips, she was particularly drawn to working with younger children at the Gichunge and Kithoka primary schools, and assisted in implementation of a daily feeding program. Dixie was greatly loved by her Kenyan friends and was given the kiMeru name Mukiri.
She retired from the PNC Bank as a Mortgage Office Assistant in 2013 after approximately 49 years.
Dixie is survived by her husband of 45 years, John B. Edwards; a sister, Donna Smith (Coy) of Union; two brothers, George (Gary) Moorshead (Sharon) of Lee’s Summit and Clayton C. Moorshead (Wanda) of Drury; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Having no children of their own, they were involved in the raising of their godchildren, Andrew and Michael Redies and Alex and Rachel Gauvin; and god-grandchildren, Michael, Charlie, Ryan, and Eleanor.
A Memorial Service is planned for Aug. 27, 2016, at 1:00 p.m., at the First United Methodist Church of Ann Arbor, Michigan, located at the corner of State and Huron streets. Inurnment will be in the First United Methodist Church Memorial Garden at the same location. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Troop 4, Methodist Youth Program at FUMC or the FUMC Kenya Mission Program in memory of Dixie Edwards.
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(paid obituary)
