Devoted to community and family

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 28, 9 December 1986, Page 3

Devoted to community and family

Ihe Waimarino laments the passing of a wellknown and loved longtime resident, who gave much of herself to Ohakune and the Waimarino area. Doris Dixon (Nana) passed away recently after a short illness, aged 75 years. Doris lived the best part of her life in the Waimarino and devoted herself to family and friends as well as to causes related to the Presbyterian Church which she supported in a giving, unselfish manner. She and her husband Eric moved to Ohakune from their home town of Christchurch in 1937. The couple went through hard times while Eric worked at various jobs around the region until settling locally as a selfemployed mechanic. Eric and Doris had four children — June, Graham. Ken and Pauline. Doris found work whereever she could, often taking on more than one job so she could provide her family with some of the home comforts. In 1 945. she worked in the market gardens, in those days digging carrots with a garden fork and picking peas by hand. She also picked blackberries and wild mushrooms for markets for a little extra cash. Doris took on a managerial position in the then named Rendezvous Tea Rooms (now the Rendezvous Dairy), held the clean-

ing contract for the Ohakune Post Office, worked in the Ohakune Bakery and at shop-keeping for Nation's Dairy during her years in the work force. In the 1960's she took in a lot of boarders into the family home to supplement the house payments at the time. During those years the children left home and Doris turned her attention to working for the community and the Church, doing "everything and anything", but still maintaining close contact with her family.

Doris was devoted to her eight grand-children and spent a lot of time with her son Graham and his family in Ohakune. She was very involved with the CWI in the Waimarino and played bowls for many years. Doris rode her bike around the streets of Ohakune until she was 65 years old and then conceded to be driven, or would walk. Doris will be remembered for her generous contributions to school activities

while her children attended Ohakune Primary School. It wasn't unusual to see her arrive at a gala day with trays and trays of toffee apples and home baking. Some people will also remember when she lived in Karioi and would push a pram along a dirt road all the way to Ngamatea to visit friends and acquaintances. Doris is sadly missed by her four children and eight grand-children and all those who knew her. Comfort can be derived from the thought that she is with her husband Eric Dixon, who passed away only two weeks before.