Kathryn Harbison Dixon, 87, Dameron

Friday, Nov. 6, 2009

Kathryn Harbison Dixon, 87, of Dameron died Nov. 4, 2009, at St. Mary's Nursing Center.

Born Aug. 29, 1922, in Morganton, N.C., she was the daughter of the late Charles W. Harbison and Kathryn Abernathy Harbison.

She worked as a nurse in Morganton, before marrying Maurice Dixon and moving to St. Mary's County in 1945. As a farmer's wife, she raised three children, kept a vegetable garden and cooked and served many meals for farm hands.

She and her husband opened Park Hall Airport on the family farm in 1954. She managed the operation of the airport until it closed in the summer of 1987.

She opened the first fabric store in Lexington Park in 1955. The Singer Company hired her to share its store space, sell fabric and sewing machines for 19 years. When the store moved, she went to work for Maryland Bank and Trust in Lexington Park. She became head teller and worked there 19 years until age 72.

She is survived by her children, Sandra D. Sweikar and husband, Stanley, of Dameron, Kathryn D. Detomasi and husband, Robert, of McKinney, Texas, and Eugene M. Dixon and wife, Jacqueline, of New Smyrna Beach, Fla.; and her grandchildren, Sara Yolac and husband, Mehmet, of New York City, Jennifer M. Dixon of New Smyrna Beach and Brittany Dixon of Pensacola, Fla.

A memorial service will be held Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009, at 3 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church in St. Mary's City. The Rev. John A. Ball will conduct the service. Inurnment will follow at the church cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Trinity Episcopal Church Restoration Fund, P.O. Box 207, St. Mary's City, MD 20686.

Arrangements are being handled by Brinsfield Funeral Home in Leonardtown.