Dixie Austen Vining, 78, Haynesville, LA

Dixie gained her wings suddenly due to respiratory failure at Minden Medical Center, Minden, LA on January 28, 2020. She was born to Richard Elton Austen and Allyne Christian Monk on December 24, 1941 in Baton Rouge, LA. She always said she was "a day older than Jesus" if anyone asked her date of birth. She always had a wit about her that always put a smile on her face. She was an only child, but had several aunts, uncles, and cousins close in age to keep her company, three of whom she was particularly close to; Aunt Sarah Jane, Aunt Toad ,Gloria Ham, and Shirley Piatt.

Dixie was employed in the oil & gas industry as a payroll and bookkeeping coordinator. She went on to be an ER admitting clerk at Schumpert Medical Center in Shreveport, LA. During this time she married and had two sons, William O'Donnell and James Johnson. Dixie loved the country life and always enjoyed sitting on the front porch listening to the birds in the trees and the songs of the birds. Her hobbies included telling jokes, crocheting, playing dominoes, and watching Family Feud, and John Wayne movies. During her life she developed hystoplasmosis that settled in her eyes, robbing her of nearly all of her eye sight. She also won her battle with breast cancer. Through her battles she chose to smile and love because that is truly who she was. Phillipians 1:3 "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you."

She is preceded in death by husband Kenneth Vining; son James Michael Johnson, parents Richard Elton Austen, and Allyne Christian Monk.

Left to cherish her memory are son William O'Donnell (Lisa); grandchildren, Bridgette O'Donnell, Jessie O'Donnell, and Richard O'Donnell; step grandchildren Ashley Miller and Austin Griffith; step great grandchildren Brielle Miller, Emmy Griffith; extended family and friends.

Memorial service will be Saturday, February 8, 2020 at 2pm in Colquit, LA at church with burial in the  Monk Family Cemetery.