Jean Troxel Tixier

Jean was very active in her Dripping Springs community since moving there in 1988. She lived the virtues of hospitality, generosity, humility and truly loving her neighbor. At her home parish, St. Martin de Porres Catholic church, she was involved in social ministry working in the food pantry, buying toys for those in need at Christmas, preparing meals for families for receptions, and making home and nursing home visits. She was also a member of the Texas Trotters, the women’s ministry and fundraising committee fondly known as the Jamica. Jean was often the first person people new to the parish community would meet, always making them feel welcome. She was known for her chocolate sheet cake, of which she made hundreds for various occasions. Jean will always be remembered for her love for others, her contagious laugh, joyful sense of humor, and beautiful smile. She will be forever loved.

Jean volunteered for many years at the Hill Country Senior Citizen’s Thrift Shop and the Hill Country Senior Center where she enjoyed weekly lunches, and made lifelong friendships. Also a member of the Dripping Springs Friendship Club, she enjoyed socializing and spending time with many friends. She was an avid reader and had a large library. She also enjoyed working on her crossword puzzles.

Jean was born on July 2, 1931, in Evanston, Illinois, to Thomas Graham Troxel II and Jeanne (nee Verritte) Troxel, and was raised in Highland Park, Illinois. After graduating from Highland Park High School in 1949, she attended the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, where she met Ed Tixier, whom she married August 9, 1952. Jean dedicated herself to a vocation as a military wife, mother of seven children, and homemaker, managing multiple household moves across the USA, and to Okinawa, Egypt, and Japan. In the mid-1960s, Jean completed her college education, earning a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree in Sociology and Anthropology from the University of Arizona, Tucson. Throughout her amazing, joyous life, Jean was the foundation of the Tixier family, a pillar of Catholic parish communities, a model of humble, spiritual devotion, and she always conducted herself with ease and grace.

She is survived by her seven children: Jim (wife Laurie) Tixier, of Altadena, California; Judy (husband Stuart) Tixier Fyall, of Dripping Springs, Texas; Tracy Tixier, of Dripping Springs, Texas; Margaret (husband Don) Harville, of Austin Texas; Suzanne (husband Perry) Runyan, of Austin, Texas; Lee (husband Kevin) McBryde, of Austin Texas; Mary Lynn Fairchild, of Dripping Springs, Texas; thirteen grandchildren—Matt (wife Jody) Tixier, Ryan Tixier, Jes (husband Matthew) Fyall Cardenas, Scott Fyall, Joey Tixier, Bart (wife Franchiska) Bryant, Cain (wife Rola) Bryant, Adam Bryant, Jeremiah Goodwin, Anthony (wife Carmen) Goodwin, Kelly Runyan, Megan Runyan, and Johnnie McBryde; and five great grandchildren—Rory Cardenas, Maya Cardenas, Luke Huffman, Allysa Tixier, and Ashley Tixier. She was pre-deceased by her brother, Thomas Graham Troxel III (1928-2003), her son-in-law Mark Fairchild (1953-2012), and her beloved husband of 47 years Edward L. Tixier (1929-1999).

There will be a Catholic Vigil service for Jean on Wednesday, February 10, 2021, 6:00pm, at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home & Memorial Park, 6300 West William Cannon Drive, Austin, Texas 78749. A funeral Mass for Jean will be held on Thursday, February 11, 2021, 10:00am at St. Martin de Porres Catholic community St. Dymphna Center, 230 Post Oak Drive, Dripping Springs, Texas 78620. The Mass will be live-streamed at www.stmartindp.org. A private, family committal service will be at 2:00pm at said memorial park.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jean’s memory to St. Martin de Porres Church, P.O. Box 1062, Dripping Springs, Texas 78620.