Dixie Ann McWilliams

Dixie Ann McWilliams was born on Friday, March 15th, 1946 in Decatur Illinois at 11:13 p.m. Central Standard Time.  She was the daughter of Samuel and Theola McWilliams.  She died at the age of 79 on August 30th,  2025, in Gresham Oregon, at 4:28p.m. Pacific Standard Time.

Dixie graduated from Stephen Decatur High School on June 1, 1964.  While there she was active in social clubs like Student Council, Chorus, Art, and Distributive Education.

Shortly after high school she relocated to Los Torrance, California where she worked for Hi-Shear Technology Corporation.

At the age of 24, Dixie married Mike Gidley on Saturday, January 23rd, 1971 in Los Angeles.

In the early 1970s, she relocated to Oregon with her husband.  In Oregon she was active with her family in many community organizations including, Garden Club, Nature Blue Bird Group, Wilsonville Community Sharing, and Women in Wilsonville.

Dixie took courses in interior design and in 1986 helped facilitate the plans for the Wilsonville, Oregon Chamber of Commerce.  She was also a Notary Public for the state of Oregon for several decades.  Dixie worked at Oregon Health Sciences for the bulk of her career.  First in the Office of the President and then for the Dotter Institute.

Important periods in Dixie’s life were Easter Sunday, April 22nd 1984 at the Meridian “Frog Pond” United Church of Christ when she was baptized.  August of 1984 when she hosted Chieko Abe to live with her family as a student guest from Tokyo, Japan.  Dixie was also a foster parent to Dennis and helped provide him with a stable, loving, and opportunity rich environment.

She was ruled by the number 6 (1+5=6) and as such emanated charisma.  She inspired worship in others and was kind and generous in spirit.  She was born on the same day as Lightnin’ Hopkins, Cecil Taylor, and Phil Lesh.  Dixie will be remembered most for her gentle, witty spirit.

Over the years, Dixie had many interests including travel, skiing, tennis, and sewing. She loved having animals of all kinds, most notably her last dog Sadie, who she often let win at tug-o-war.

Dixie was preceded in death by her parents, only sister Nancy Griefer, her Aunt Alverta “Dixie Dee” Ramsey, her nephews Mike Crose, Todd and Thad Griefer, dear friends Dennis Hume and Anne-Marie Jones.   She is survived by her daughters Amber Gidley Berg and Cassi Belding, sons-in-law Johann Berg and Ryan Belding, brother-in-law Bill Griefer, her nieces, Kim Cole, Timia Griefer, and Shelly Crose.  Her remaining friends were Bill and Kathy Furgason along with Julie North.

There will be no service for Dixie, per her request.  In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made in the form of contributions to The Oregon Humane Society.