Dixie Austin Whitaker of Decherd, Tennessee passed away January 29th
peacefully, at her home. The daughter of the late Richard M. and Mary P.
Austin, she was born in 1931, raised in Decherd. She was a cheerleader for
and graduated from Franklin County High School. Thereafter, she studied at
the University of Georgia and Tennessee Technological University. After her
graduation from college in 1953 she began teaching at Tullahoma’s West
Junior High School. She later taught, for many years, various grades at
East Lincoln Elementary School in Tullahoma. She loved and never stopped
talking about her students. She was predeceased by her husband, Henry T.
(Tommy) Whitaker, who she married in 1955. Her surviving children are Mary
Nell Hess (Bill) of Decherd, Richard M. Whitaker (Barbara) of Clearwater,
Florida, and Dixie Ann Anderson (Casey) of Decherd. Her oldest son, Henry
Thomas (Tommy) Whitaker, predeceased her. She is survived by twelve
grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. The couple moved from
Tullahoma to Decherd in 1974 and lived a very happy married life there
until Tommy’s death in 1995. Thereafter, Dixie enjoyed her children and
grandchildren in Decherd until her health just recently failed. The family
will conduct a graveside service at Mount Gardner Cemetery, in Decherd.
Once the COVID virus retreats, the family plans to have a memorial service.
Please visit our website at www.davesculbertsonfuneralhome.com to leave
online condolences. Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of
arrangements.
