Dixie D. Brown

June 25, 1940 - July 23, 2020

Dixie D. Brown, 80, of Iron Mountain, passed away on Thursday, July 23, 2020 at Victorian Pines Estates. Dixie was born June 25, 1940 in Chicago, IL, daughter of the late Donald E. Larson and Beulah (Coombes) Spigarelli. She graduated from Iron Mountain High School in 1958 and went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Northern Michigan University. Dixie married Richard “Dick” Brown on September 16, 1961 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Niagara, WI. Dick preceded her in death on Nov. 2, 1999. Dixie was an English, Speech and Special Education Teacher at Iron Mountain High School for 30 years, retiring in 1993. She continued her education throughout her career and earned her Master’s Degree. Dixie was a member of the Michigan Education Association and served as the MEA president for the Iron Mountain Schools. She was an active member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. Dixie was an avid collector and had many antiques, dolls & quilts. She enjoyed reading, writing, gardening and spending time with family and friends. Dixie is survived by three children, Jason (Mary) Brown of Iron Mountain, Heather (Billy) Hughes of Houston, TX and Grant (Simone) Brown of Wilmette, IL; six grandchildren, Ricky, Natalia and Avea Brown, Sadie Hughes, and Chloe and Emily Brown; three sisters, Sherry Christ, Sally Beauchamp and Tammy Spigarelli; a sister-in-law, Judy Larson; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, Dick, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Donald “Butch” Larson and Randy Spigarelli; her step-father, Orlando Spigarelli; and a brother-in-law, Jerry Christ. Private family services will be held at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Iron Mountain with Candy Buchcuski officiating. Friends are welcomed at the graveside service held at 2:30 pm on Tuesday at Cemetery Park in Iron Mountain, followed by an outside reception at the family home, 400 West H Street in Iron Mountain. In lieu of flowers, donations in Dixie’s memory may be made to St. Judes Children’s Hospital at www.stjude.org The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to OSF Hospice and the staff at Victorian Pines Estates for the care given to Dixie. Condolences may be expressed to the family of Dixie Brown online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com. The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.