Oleta Murriel Bryant Dixon

Oleta Murriel Bryant Dixon, born December 23, 1925 on Splatter Branch in Center Ridge Arkansas, passed from her earthly life on August 15, 2017. She was the 5th child of Eli Harvey and Mary Jane Epperson Bryant. She was the widow of Lyman J. Dixon to whom she married September 8, 1945 until his death in November of 1991. She was a Christian being baptized in Hogan Creek. Her eleven siblings in birth order are Marvelle Noakes, Bertie Flowers, Faye McCoy, Afton Bryant, Murriel Dixon, Doy E. Bryant, Betty Louise Flowers, Thomasa Oliger, Nina Sue Scroggins, Hubert Bryant, Jimmy F. Bryant, and Mary Rita Sutton. Murriel is survived by two daughters, Milna and Randy Hayes of Blackwell and Bethali Sommers of Morrilton and Robert Standridge of Dover; 2 granddaughters: Dr. Meghan Sommers and Emali Sommers, 2 step-granddaughters, Shawn and Bob Carter of Humnoke and LeAnn and Clay Brazeal of Carlisle, 2 step-great grandsons, 2 step-great granddaughters, 1 step-great-great granddaughter, a brother Jimmy Bryant, a sister Nina Scroggins, numerous nieces, nephews, and a host of friends. Murriel worked at Oberman Manufacturing, later Levi's, in Morrilton for 18 months while attending Arkansas State Teachers College, now UCA in Conway, to get the 30 college hours needed to obtain a teaching certificate. With certificate in hand, in 1949, she started teaching grades 1-6 in a one room schoolhouse at Blackwell for four years. While teaching at Blackwell, she continued taking college courses and obtained a Bachelor's degree in Education. She taught 1st and 3rd grades at South Ward in Morrilton for 1 year, 7th grade for 2 years, then 2nd and 3rd grades for one year. After the birth of her daughter Milna, she spent 5 years teaching 5th grade in Atkins while obtaining a Master's Degree in Education at University of Arkansas in Fayetteville on Saturdays and during summers. She then taught math at Morrilton Junior High School until the 1969-1970 school year which she took off to the be able to transport her youngest daughter, Beth, to kindergarten for half a day. During this time she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease, which was an incurable cancer. After experimental and, at the time, unfamiliar chemotherapy and 62 trips to Little Rock for Cobalt treatments, she was able to return to teaching 7th, 8th, and 9th grade math at Sacred Heart for one year. After, she went back to Morrilton Junior High teaching 7th grade math and moved to the new building. When Morrilton, Plumerville, and Menifee combined, it became Morrilton Intermediate High School and she taught 9th grade general math. This was a total of 36 years teaching with 26 years being at Morrilton. She taught future doctors, lawyers, teachers, professors, engineers, pharmacist, RNs, LPNs, CNAs, dental hygienists, representatives, senators, business men and women, and many hard working good kids. She influenced countless lives. She retired in 1986 and enjoyed 5 years of being home and raising cattle with Lyman until his death. Three months later her first grandchild, Meghan, was born and then 2 years later, Emali. Those two granddaughters became the center of her world. Being "Mamaw" was in her mind THE greatest achievement ever. Her heart over flowed with joy to have a doctor and a teacher. Mrs. Dixon was respected and feared by all. Many students became acquainted with her board of education which she could apply in a most memorable way. Very few students had a run in with "The Board" more than once. She remembered all of her students usually by name and they remembered her, too. She mentored many young beginning teachers with her years of experience. Murriel was dependable, hardworking, fair, and strong. She was the true meaning of a farmer's wife. A few of the things she did regularly was taking meals to the farm, making sure she canned enough to last through the winter if not more, and making sure her family had their needs met. She will be loved and missed by many. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, August 18, at the Harris Chapel with Rev. Katie Pearce and Rev. James Williams officiating. Burial will be at Elmwood Cemetery by Harris Funeral Home of Morrilton. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to South Conway County Public School Foundation/Mrs. Murriel Dixon Morrilton Junior High classroom teacher grant, PO Box 318, Morrilton, AR 72110. Arrangements are by Harris Funeral Home of Morrilton.

Oleta Murriel Bryant Dixon

December 23, 1925 - August 15, 2017