The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Services for Dixie Bunkley,95, of Temple, will be Saturday, Feb. 9, at 10:30 a.m. at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange, with the Rev. Mike Umbenhaur of First Presbyterian Church of Orange officiating. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery in Orange. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7 :00 pm, Friday, Feb. 8, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Mrs. Bunkley died on Friday, Feb. 1, at a local hospital in Temple.

Born in Winnsboro, TX, on Dec. 17, 1917, Dixie was the daughter of Isaiah Lee Goolsby and Lula Belle Cowley Goolsby. Dixie was the last of her seven brothers and sisters to pass away.

During World War II, she moved to Orange, where her husband Sterling was employed in a shipyard. Dixie graduated from University of Houston with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education. She taught school for 25 years in the Orange area.

She was a member of First Presbyterian church in Orange for 65 years, teaching Sunday school and Bible school. After moving to Temple, she worshiped at the Grace Presbyterian Church in Temple. Dixie was active in the Christian Women Organization and the Retired Teachers Association. Her hobbies included gardening, reading, and music.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Sterling Bunkley, a marriage lasting 69 years.

Dixie is survived by her Son, Rex Bunkley, and his wife Pat, of Sun Lake, AZ; and two daughters, Sandy Mason, and her husband Clarence Mason of Belton, Sharon Hogg and her husband Buster Hogg of Bridge City. She is also survived by four grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Serving as pallbearers will be David Mason, Mike Bunkley, David Reeves, Clarence Mason, Buster Hogg, and Jeremy Hogg.

The family would like to thank the staff at the Arbor House Memory Care Center in Temple for all the love and care shown to Dixie.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Presbyterian Children’s Home & Services, 4407 Bee Cave Road Suite 520, Austin, TX. 78746.