Dixie Darlene Bess passed away November 13, 2022 in Hawthorne, Nevada after a brief illness. Three of her children were present at the time of her passing but all were there in spirit, loving their mom and expressing their thankfulness for her. Mom was born August 23, 1934 in Cannonville, Utah to Marion and Elva Clark and was the middle child, number five of nine.
Dixie attended grade school in Cannonville and graduated in 1952 in Tropic, Utah. Soon after graduation, mom moved to Wendover, Nevada to work at the Stateline Café for her Aunt Lyla and Uncle Sam. In 1953, Dixie and her relatives moved to Hawthorne to open The Nevada Club, a café. Working as a waitress, mom met Thomas H. Pellett and in February 1954 they eloped to Reno, Nevada. Moving to and from small Nevada and California towns was a norm for the young Pellett family. In 1967, Dixie was done moving and settled her family permanently in Hawthorne, Nevada.
Mom entered the workforce in 1967 for the Hawthorne Naval Ammunition Depot as an explosive handler. The height of the Viet Nam War required long hours and often seven days a week. After an accident at work, Mom transferred to an office job in the Traffic Division. Here, in traffic, mom became a guru with highways, interstates, and backroads. Her knowledge of the highways and byways of the United States allowed mom to give directions to many. Mom made many friends through her years of work and, like her childhood friends, remained dear in her heart.
Mom worked long hours working at the base, took care of seven kids, prepared meals, and cleaned house. However with all her motherhood obligations, mom included time for her favorite hobbies of reading, crafts, and her favorite sports. The New York Yankees, San Francisco 49ers, and the BYU Cougars were her teams. Mom watched them as often as she could but if they were losing, the channel was changed.
April 1985, Mom married James M. Bess (Jim) and they had 31 years together. Soon after marrying Jim, they moved to Herlong, California and here, Mom became a fulltime housewife, a ‘job’ she truly enjoyed. Then in 1992, they returned to Hawthorne as a retired couple. Together they had 10 children and this provided them with many opportunities to travel and visit all their children and grandchildren.
Preceding Dixie in death are her parents, Marion and Elva, husband Jim, brothers Marion and Dallas, sisters LaRue, Marilyn, Lynne, Lyla, and Zola. Survivors include her brother Steven (VerJean) Clark of Utah, and sister in-law OsaFae Pellett of Winnemucca. All of Dixie and Jim’s children blessed our mom and were her true joy. Tom (Sabrina), Jerry, Mike, Tracey (John), Pat (Holly), Robert, Lisa, Dee (Jon), Susie (Darren), and Jimmy. Grandchildren: Kyle (Summer), Sarah (Billy), Heather (Jason), Courtney, Shawn (Rebecca), Brooke, Megan, Zac (Tab), Hillary (Brandon), Hannah (Bud), Jonah (Alex), Kaitlin (Gerald), Nick, Devin (Regina), and Alyssa (Jeff). Great grandchildren: Mason, Lane, Paige, Olivia, Luca, Kayliana, Sawyer, Austin, Carter, Ashton, Emma, Micah, Asalea, Esme, Henley, Kiley, Natalie, Payson, and an abundance of nieces and nephews.
Due to Dixies family being spread across the United States of America, a memorial service will be held Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 11am at the LDS Church. Located at 207 South A Street, Hawthorne, Nevada.
