Phyllis Dixon

DAYTON — Phyllis Margaret (Frykman) Dixon, loving wife, mother, and grandmother went home to her Lord and Savior on Wednesday morning, Sept. 13, 2018, at Dominion Senior Living center at Hixson after a long illness. She was surrounded by her husband, children, and many friends who delighted in her smile and will miss her dearly. The first of six children, Phyllis Margaret Frykman was born in Rochester, Minn., on April 8, 1941, to Wilfred Chiles Frykman and Margaret Gray Frykman. Working for Gideons International and other ministry organizations, the family moved from Minnesota to Nebraska and eventually settled in Illinois. After graduating from Wheaton (Illinois) High School, Phyllis worked for a year at Scripture Press Publishing before moving to Dayton, Tenn., to attend Bryan College. While studying for a degree in Education, Phyllis met her handsome soon-to-be husband Wayne Henry Dixon. The Dixons married on Aug. 25, 1962, and earned their degrees two years later, in 1964. After taking time to start her family, Phyllis began teaching at Rhea Central Middle School in 1974 where she continued to teach until her retirement in 2004. Phyllis devoted many hours to creating classroom materials, painting and repainting her room, individualizing instruction, and mastering new teaching methods, believing that every child in her class could succeed. Phyllis also filled leadership roles in local education organizations, including the Rhea-Dayton Education Association and Delta Kappa Gamma. In addition to her professional life, Phyllis attended First Baptist Church in Dayton and the Partners Sunday School class for 30 years. She was always intellectually curious, and at various times pursued interests such as painting, drawing, photography, history, and genealogy. However, cooking and baking were true passions. Phyllis deconstructed recipes to improve them; she was famous for her desserts and created elaborate holiday feasts with ten or more dishes and as many or more celebrants. No one ever left her house hungry. When each of her children married, Phyllis created exquisite wedding cakes featuring multiple flavors, fillings and textures. Much of her time in the kitchen was accompanied by music played loud, whether it was gospel, classical or roots music. She always sang along, reminding anyone nearby that she used to sing in a trio. Phyllis loved to travel, whether by car, plane, boat or train. She loved technology and was always ready to try something new. At Christmas, her home sparkled with lights, smelled heavenly from her cooking, and was so full of Santas, angels, reindeer, and Christmas music that it was simply magical. She adored the holidays, sporting Halloween sweaters, Thanksgiving sweaters and Christmas sweaters, accompanied by appropriate holiday earrings, necklaces and brooches. She always had two Christmas trees, filled with lights and ornaments carefully chosen from years of children’s Christmas projects and those marking family events. Phyllis is survived by her husband of 56 years, Wayne Henry Dixon; her children, Lisa Dixon Bartles (Rex), of Chapel Hill, N.C., Susanne Dixon Moore (David), of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Adam Clinton Dixon (Jennifer), of Fuquay-Varina, N.C., and son-of-her heart Aaron Paris, of Chattanooga, Tenn.; her sisters, Karen Frykman-Steig, of Marin County, Calif., Faith Marion Frykman, of Sturgeon Bay, Wisc., Dianne Frykman Capps, of Brevard, N.C.; and brothers, Daniel Paul Frykman,, of Provo, UT and David Brainerd Frykman, of Sister Bay, Wisc. She’ll also be missed by eight grandchildren, Bonnita Shea Bartles Grant (Chris), of Athens, Ga., Margaret and Diana Bartles, of Chapel Hill, N.C., Samantha Moore, of Washington, D.C., Jackson, and Jared Moore, of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Abigail, Landry, and Will Dixon of Fuquay-Varina, N.C. Phyllis also has a great-grandson, Egan Grant, of Athens, Ga. Phyllis was preceded in death by her father, Wilfred Chiles Frykman and mother, Margaret Isabel Gray Frykman. Funeral services for Phyllis will be held Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Milton Knox officiating. She will be laid to rest at Rhea Memory Gardens in Dayton. Please share your memories of Phyllis on her online guest register at www.vanderwallfh.com. The family is being cared for by the Vanderwall Funeral Home in Dayton where they will receive family and friends Saturday after 1 p.m. The family would like to thank Dominion Senior Living - Tapestry and its amazing caregivers for their many kindnesses to Phyllis during her illness. Phyllis’ smile and ready spirit was fully matched by the wonderful women who cared for her. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Bryan College (423) 775-7323; www.bryan.edu/donate ; or by mail to Bryan College, Advancement Department, 721 Bryan Dr., Dayton, TN 37321.