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SARAH DIXIE ALABAMA NEELY 'Dixie' March 9, 1911 – January 1, 1990; 78 years old
By Dixie Lou Montgomery
Mother talked so much about her big family. She was so proud of them. She enjoyed telling about practical jokes. One that comes to mind – she and Gladys (niece) were going to pull the hairs out of each other's big toes. First Mom put Sloans Linament on hers — and felt no pain. Gladys (who had not known the benefit of the Sloans Linament trick) howled when it was her turn. (Editor: Dixie was only seven months older than Gladys)
She told how they could use cream on their cereal -- skim it off right after milking the cows.
She told of her mom putting cream and sugar on snow - for ice cream.
She told of her mother belting out the beautiful hymn "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" while she hung out the clothes – lots of clothes – sheets.
She told us how her mom and older sisters made soap from lye and fat. We tried that a time or two. She told of her mom wringing a chicken's neck – or chopping their heads off so there would be dinner. I never killed a chicken but I can sure pluck and clean and cut one up.
Mom called her mom Mother usually, and her dad, Dad. She talked a lot about her mom and siblings, not too much about her dad – I guess he was out in the fields a lot.
Of course I never met Grandma. I think I met Grandpa once – and his second wife.
We girls spent 2 or 3 weeks with Uncle Miles and Aunt Ethel in Norwalk. That was a fun time! I think we lived too far away and did not have the means to travel.
Our mom told us several times over the years that when she left for nurses training that her mother (Grandma) put her hands on Mom's shoulders and prayed fervently for her. She told many times that her mother's prayers had followed her through the years.
Because she was the youngest, she felt she had been "carried around on a feather pillow" with very little responsibility. She really had to face reality when she was on her own.
Mom reminded we three girls (Patsy, Loreta, and me) that we came from good "stock." She told us we were the best three daughters in the whole world.
Our mom could make us love bean sandwiches! I had no idea we were poor 'til I was older.
Mom spent lots of time with us – walking – talking – singing – driving – milking cows. Every opportunity she made the Lord God real to us! She reminded us to lean on the "Unseen Arm," to keep pedaling our bicycle – if we fell off, to pick it up and get going! To "keep on keeping on." I know that was what she had heard!
Our mom prayed for us and with us – often on our knees. Her prayers reached to our future mates – our children and grandchildren. Her mother's prayers have truly reached out thru several generations and still going strong!
Mom would sit with me in a cozy spot on the hay stack and read me stories. Daniel In The Lion's Den – she made that story, and others, come alive. Mom reminded us to search the scriptures for ourselves to find promises just for ourselves. She also found comfort in reading the words of old hymns.
Our mom took pleasure in simple things! Rocks, flowers, birds, sunsets in the desert, the tiny flowers she knew. God made those just for her – you could only see them if you got down on your knees and looked close. Mother loved the stars! We would lie flat on our backs on blankets on the ground and watch them – shooting stars were exciting!
Mom told us many times not to hold a grudge! "Let it run off your back like water off a duck's back!"
Mom was one who would truly give the shirt off her back if someone needed it. I always admired that. Mom said often she was the richest person on earth because of her family. She was so good at making us feel good. Our mom was also very strict! No grey area with her. Black or white. We got switched a few times.
Our mom rarely complained though there was much she could have complained about.
In her parents family bible her name was Sarah Dixie Alabama Neely. She said she was born in Wastella, Texas. I never have found it on the map.
Mom spoke often of her 18 months in nurses training and how good it had been for her. She met our father in the hospital. A very handsome man. He struggled with poor health but had many admirable qualities.
Our mom loved peach pie! I'm not sure when she first had it or who made it for her but she mentioned it often. That's what she wanted when she wanted to celebrate a special occasion. Some years back our oldest granddaughter, Amber, referred to her as Peachie Pie Grandma and it stuck! It is on her tombstone.
Mom said her mom made a delicious prune cake. She wrote down a recipe for it and it is still in my Recipe Box. She made it for us a few times. It really is good. She felt Grandma had made it up.
Our mother was faithful in her faith. She never varied in her faith in God. Her last words on this earth were "Praise God from whom all blessing flow." It probably took her a whole minute to get those few words out. But she said it. She went home to be with Jesus January 1, 1990, about three in the afternoon. What a way to start a New Year!
Mother did not have money to leave us, but left something far more valuable. She led us to Jesus – at her knees – therefore eternal life.
As we grew older, we girls all wondered at her wisdom at being a parent. She gave all credit to her own dear mother, our Grandma.
By Loreta Maxine Montgomery
I didn't know Grandma Neely as she died before I was born, although I do remember Grandpa and Miss Anna.
One thing that Mother told me was that when she was a little girl, Uncle S.T. had taken her out in the cold and grandma called out, "S.T., get that child back in here!"
Another thing Aunt Otie told me was when Grandma needed to be gone to help when one of her grandchildren was born, Aunt Otie had to do all the cooking!
Reggie Beebe, whose wife is a cousin of Marvin Morrison, told a story about himself and Rex Neely. Rex and Reggie were working picking watermelons and kind of messed up and broke a lot of the watermelons in the field. Uncle Clyde came along and gave Rex a thrashing, and Reggie decided he'd better head on home.
This is a story that Mother, Aunt Wastella or Aunt Otie told: Aunt Wastella, Uncle Roy, and Aunt Fairye were driving in the car and Aunt Wastella and Aunt Fairye got to arguing whether artichokes are a leafy vegetable or a potato type vegetable. Uncle Roy just said "Who cares?"
I got the impression from everyone who knew Grandma Neely that she was a wonderful woman, and could have fried chicken on the table for dinner very fast. One thing Mother said about Grandma was that she always kept a clean house and her children never went to bed with dirty feet. Grandma had long red hair; it made us think of Pat.
Mother said one time, "My mother's prayers have followed me."
Mother said Grandma and Aunt Mae and other ladies used to meet for Bible study and prayer, and Mother said they were praying for HER!
Mother said when she went for Grandma's funeral, Uncle Grover said, "She's one of God's choicest angels!"
By Patsy Montgomery Stice
Mother taught us a lot about how to keep healthy and how to take care of ourselves if we got sick. Eating lots of fruit and vegetables and gargling at night before going to bed will stop many a sore throat in its tracks, and a warm iron wrapped in a towel on the chest is good for a chest cold.
She talked so much about how neat it was to be part of a large family, so I think that inspired me to want a large family myself. It's true, there is something wonderful about each one when they all get together, work together or laugh together – lots of work, lots of happy times.
Mother taught us not to waste and Daddy was great at repairing things – clocks, stoves – his car engine ran like a sewing machine. Mother even poured juice from vegetables on her garden along with peels for mulch.
I want to pass these things on to my grandchildren. Sarah Dixie was a very friendly person. I can still see her now at the airport on her way to one of the family reunions. She would start talking to some mother with a little one, offering to help or give some advise. One of the nuns at the hoispital where she worked nights still keeps in contact with me because of her love and admiration for Sarah Dixie.
She acquired the name Peachie Pie from one of my sisters grandchildren, so it stuck. One time when Sarah Dixie was living with us while recovering from a broken hip, she wanted to walk a block. After a few minutes, I walked out to check on her progress and one of the little children playing in the circle asked, "Are you looking for Peachy Pie? She's down there standing under that shady tree." He was helping keep an eye on her. She completely recovered and joyfully said, "Look, I can still skip!" Aunt Otie was here visiting and she just shook her head to see her "little sis still able to skip like a little girl."
Her favorite sermon just shortly before she died was the one about Jesus borrowing Joseph's tomb, "just for the week-end, he wouldn't need it after Sunday morning!" I reassured her that her body would not stay in the grave forever, but that she will come forth on that Great Gittin Up Morning! Mother passed on January 1, 1990 after 2 1/2 years of cheerfully and heroically fighting ovarian cancer. We kept her at home except for two weeks in the hospital with pneumonia. All the children were surrounding her and we were singing hymns.
Jim (James Stice) and I met April 8, 1951 and we were married June 12, 1951. He had come back from three years in the Navy, including one year aboard the Maddox, from the start of the Korean War until April of 1951. He had grown up on the farm and because of hard work here in Orange County, he worked his way up to be the plant superintendent for R.J. Noble Asphalt Paving Co., and retired from there after 47 1/2 years. He gave our children many wonderful attributes of dedication and honesty, and now we are seeing these same qualities in our 23 grandchildren.