Joyce Monroe Dixon

Joyce Monroe Dixon, 85, longtime Austin businesswoman, club and civic leader, died Tuesday April 14, 2009 after a long illness. A resident of Austin since 1935, Mrs. Dixon graduated from Austin High School and attended the University of Texas where she was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. Mrs. Dixon served with the federal Office of Price Administration during World War II and was associated with major Austin auto dealerships for a quarter century. She was employed by Covert Buick for 12 years, was secretary-treasurer of the old Jack Stableford Pontiac Corporation here from 1958-1970 and continued in that position with the successor - Everett Frizzell Pontiac Co. until 1972. She was married to the late R. M. Dixon, then chairman of the Texas Water Board of Engineers, from 1960 until his death in 1988. From 1973 until 1983, Mrs. Dixon was an active Austin real estate broker, and continued to maintain her broker's license throughout her life. She was twice president of Consumer Credit Executives of Austin and of Austin Consumer Credit Women. During 1975-1976, she was president of the Austin State Officials Ladies Club, and retained her membership in that organization and in the Texas Society of Professional Engineers women's auxiliary here. She was an active member of the Austin Woman's Club and formerly served as the group's fund-raising ways and means committee chairman. She was also engaged in fund raising for the Travis Humane Society. Mrs. Dixon was well known as a commentator for style shows benefitting numerous Austin civic organizations 1972-1983. She conducted a successful, single-handed campaign to acquire donations of original paintings by prominent local artists and collectors for patient's rooms at Shoal Creek Hospital. She received a special award for that project in 1975. She was named thirteen times to the Pontiac Motor Division's National Accountants Honor Roll. Other special awards were made to Mrs. Dixon by the Human Society and the Austin Young Woman's Christian Association. She was the only daughter of journalist and association executive J. Carroll Monroe and Lorraine Hodge Monroe. Both are deceased. She is survived by the longtime love of her life, Jon Ford. Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 18th at the Texas State Cemetery, 901 Navasota St, Austin. Honorary pallbearers are Dr. Robert Alexius, Dr. Frank Covert, Clifford Danstrom, Tom Griffith, Larmon Maddox, Robert Reyes, George Stableford, Ken Towery, Charlie Holmes, and Charles Dick Travis.