DIXIE MARGARET SICK LEGGETT

1935-2020

Dixie Margaret Sick Leggett loved well to the very end, finishing her life course this past Sunday, December 6, 2020 in Houston at the age of 84 as a faithful and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, mother-in-law, daughter, sister, friend, and follower of Jesus.

To those who knew her, Dixie was the kindest of loving hearts; an infectious encourager and esteem builder who lifted up everyone around her; a model of selflessness, sacrificial service, thankfulness, and humility; a committed pursuer of excellence. She exuded decency, honesty, gentleness, and a simple goodness in ways that are hard to describe but that were easy to see when in her presence. And yet certainly the most singular aspect of Dixie’s personal constitution was her devout faith. She was a Christ follower whose pure flame of faith burned bright; a prayer stalwart nourished by a supreme confidence that God heard her many prayers; a knowledgeable student of the Bible who worked diligently to apply its teachings in daily life; a high-caliber intellect with the faith of a child. We will miss her and her soft cheerful smile and bright sunny voice more than we can say.

Dixie was born on December 9, 1935 in Houston, Texas, a 4th generation Houstonian, growing up with two older brothers she adored and part of a large close-knit extended family who all lived nearby. Dixie grew up attending Christ Church Cathedral, where her family was actively involved. She graduated valedictorian of Lamar HS in 1953, and in 1957 graduated with honors from Rice University with a BA in Romance Languages.

During her years at Rice, Dixie was highly involved in many aspects of academic and campus life – as VP of the Student Association, permanent VP of the Class of 1957, one of the “ten outstanding seniors” chosen by faculty and student leaders, a senior class favorite, Phi Beta Kappa member, Pi Delta Phi (VP), and the Sarah Lane Literary Society (President). Her senior year she was elected Rice’s Queen of Rondelet.

Dixie met Waldo, her husband and life-love, at Rice through a mutual friend. They went on their first date to the Rice Navy Ball in Galveston, where their first dance was to “I Could Have Danced All Night.” Dance they did. They were wed on May 31, 1958, beginning 61 ½ years of wonderful marriage. Their three children, Lisa, John, and Jim, brought them great joy.

After living in Japan for 2 years while Waldo served in the Navy, Waldo and Dixie moved to Baytown, Texas, where he resumed a 38-year career with Exxon as a chemical engineer. They raised their family together in Baytown (1961-1970), Miami (1970-1973), and Houston (1973-2020). Regardless of venue, Dixie ensured that home was a place of warmth, love, and encouragement for the family, and served as the relational glue that bound it. This role continued even after the kids were grown. One of her greatest joys was being a grandmother, and she and Waldo attended hundreds, if not thousands, of events supporting their grandchildren.

Dixie cherished maintaining relationships with her Rice classmates through the years. She enjoyed planning class reunions and served a longstanding role as class recorder for the Rice alumni magazine, which gave her the opportunity to stay in touch with many of her and Waldo’s classmates.

Dixie believed in God at a young age, but she would tell you that she had a lifechanging encounter with

God in mid-life as she came to more fully understand that Jesus died on the Cross as her substitute, bearing the penalties for her sins and thus fully reconciling her to God. Over the years, Dixie taught many Sunday School classes and Bible studies at St. Marks UMC (Baytown), Kendall UMC (Miami), and Chapelwood UMC (Houston). But she always viewed her most valuable teaching to be an extended series she developed on “The Cross of Christ” - a study of the centrality and significance of the Cross - which was for many years in high demand on the Sunday School circuit at Chapelwood. Dixie was also actively involved in Chapelwood’s prayer ministry, served on its head pastor search committee, and with Waldo was a longstanding member of the Candlelighters class. She and Waldo together with the whole family helped their son Jim launch Grace Fellowship Church in Katy, Texas. Dixie founded the thriving prayer ministry at Grace Fellowship, including a faithful prayer group called Prayer Life, and she mentored many spiritually through this.

Dixie supported her husband Waldo in his athletic adventures, traveling with him all over the U.S. and world to cheer him on at countless marathons, triathlons, and swimming events. She was there waiting for him at the finish line of each event. And we believe he was waiting for her as she crossed her finish line into Heaven. Dixie’s most consistent message to her family in her last few weeks was “I will be in Heaven praying for you.”

Dixie is survived by her children Lisa Grossman (King), John Leggett (Stephanie), Jim Leggett (Lisa); grandchildren Smith Leggett (Ingrid), Alex Kelly (Kevin), Grace Leggett, Katie Johnson (Tyler), John-David Leggett, and step grandson Martin Grossman (Izzy); great grandchildren Peter, Andrew, Aubrey, Jonathan, and Oliver; sisters-in-law and numerous nieces and nephews. Dixie was preceded in death by her husband L. Waldo Leggett, Jr., her father Joseph Edward Sick, Jr., her mother Cressie Atkinson

Sick, her brothers Joseph Edward Sick III and John Richard Sick.

In light of COVID, we will be having a live-stream-only memorial service on Tuesday, December 15, 2020, at 1:00pm (Central). The children and grandchildren will gather privately for this service and will live-stream broadcast this service for you to join us online. To participate in this live stream, go to http://www.whatisgrace.org/ Dixie. To leave the family a message or to share a memory about Dixie for the family to read go to https:// www.dignitymemorial.com/ obituaries/houston-tx/dixieleggett

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to consider making gifts to Grace Fellowship Church, 2655 South Mason Road, Katy, TX 77450 with the memo: Prayer Ministry in memory of Dixie Leggett.