Dixie Rose Charrier Wiesen, passed away Thursday August 15, 2024 in Waco, Texas. She was a former Golden Triangle resident for over 60 years. Dixie was born in Alexandria, Louisiana, February 16, 1930. She graduated early from Alexandria's Bolton High School in 1946. She received a scholarship to St. Mary's Hospital School of Nursing and traveled on a Greyhound bus to pursue her dreams in Port Arthur. The nursing program was in conjunction with Lamar State College where she graduated in 1949. In college, Dixie was Senior Class Treasurer and President of the Catholic Newman Club. On January 12,1950 she married Emmett G. Wiesen in a small ceremony at the St. James Rectory with Rev. Frank Schanzer officiating.
Dixie loved being a RN and enjoyed working in several different areas of the medical field: hospital ICU & CCU charge nurse; office nurse for long-time Port Arthur physician, Dr. L.C. Carter; school nurse at Wheatly, Woodrow Wilson Jr. High and Thomas Jefferson Senior High School and Director of Nurses at the Golden Triangle Convalescent Center. After moving to Waco in 2008, she volunteered at the VA Medical Center and was on the medical ministry team at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Over her 62 years in the Port Arthur area, Dixie held membership at St. James, St. Catherines and St. Elizabeths Catholic Churches volunteering several years as attendance clerk for CCD at St Catherines. Dixie was an active member of the PTA for 25 years and belonged to the Maroon & Gold Band Booster Club. In addition, she was a member of the American Nurses Association, Texas Nurses Association, served as Recording Secretary for Port Arthur Independent School District Nurses and was a board member for the American Heart Association. Her hobbies included reading and genealogy. She enjoyed dancing and listening to a variety of music including Charlie Rich, Engelbert Humperdinck, Perry Como and Andrea Bocelli.
Dixie was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years; her parents, Argie and Leone (Scallan) Charrier; four brothers, James A. Charrier of Alexandria, LA, Roy Charrier of Long Beach, CA, Albin Charrier of Phoenix, AZ and Frank Charrier of Palm Springs, CA; one sister, Edina C. Wilson of Alexandria, LA; son-in-law W. David Sharp of Waco and grandson, Andrew Wiesen of League City. She is survived by her four children, Pam Rodgers (Conrad) of Marble Falls, Cindy Jamieson of San Marcos, Brian Wiesen (Marta) of League City, Jane Sharp of Waco and one sister, Louise Hagan of Evanston, IL. Dixie is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren plus one on the way in September.
A gathering of family and friends will be held from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m., followed by a funeral service at 2:00 p.m., at Melancon Levingston Funeral Home located at 5601 39th St., Groves, Texas 77619. Interment will be held at Oak Bluff Memorial Park at a later date.
Cremation services are under the direction of Melancon Levingston Funeral Home – Groves.