Dixie Rae Iiams

Dixie Rae (Hunter) Iiams, 91, of Kansas City, MO died Tuesday, February 27, 2024 with her two grandchildren by her side. The daughter of Emil R. Hunter and Elizabeth (Disharoon) Hunter, Dixie was born on March 5, 1932 at the Oak Hill Sanatorium at Warrensburg Missouri. She was the 10th child of a family of 12 children and the only child to be born at a hospital.

Dixie grew up with her brothers and sisters on their family farm in Pittsville Missouri. She often shared stories of working on the farm, helping with chores and walking to grade school at Rocky Ford, a one room wooden framed school. Dixie attended high school in Holden Missouri. Dixie’s first job was for Hallmark Cards Inc. where she worked the switchboard. She then went on to work the switchboard at Bendix and lastly with Allied Signal where she retired.

Dixie was blessed with 53 years of marriage to William Calvin Iiams. The two met at a skating rink in Warrensburg where William courted his future wife for a year. They spent their time skating, attending drive-in movies and dining at Peterson’s drive in restaurant. William asked for Dixie’s hand in marriage and the pair were married March 2nd, 1957 at the Enon Baptist Church by Harold (Pete) Beard. In 1959 William and Dixie welcomed their son William Scott and moved to Kansas City, MO.

Dixie was devoted to her family and church. If Dixie wasn’t volunteering her time with the church she was spending time visiting family. It would be fair to say that Dixie was always up to date on anything that was happening in her family, a family that spanned several siblings and dozens of nieces and nephews. The love and care she shared with family was mutual; Dixie was special.

William and Dixie were members at Ruskin Heights and in the later Gracepoint Baptist Church. Dixie planned and led Vacation Bible School for years and was devoted to the Children’s ministry. Dixie had a passion for giving back. She particularly loved her time filling backpacks for the Back Snack program through Harvesters, a local organization that sends home food for children over the weekend when they are not in school to receive food.

She is survived by her son, Scott Iiams of Kansas City, MO. Dixie will be fondly remembered by her two grandchildren, Carolyn (Joe) and Jason; and three great grandchildren, Matthew, Nell and Jamison all from Kansas City, MO. She is preceded in death by her husband William Calvin Iiams, brothers Ralph Hunter, Rex Hunter, Dale Hunter, Robert Hunter, Russell Hunter and sisters Oryne Hancock, Sue Kendrick, Anna Marie Hunter & Mildred Hunter, & Norma Jean Brooks.

Contributions may be made out to Harvesters (3801 Topping Avenue Kansas City, MO 64129, https://www.harvesters.org/)

A visitation for Dixie will be held Thursday, March 14, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Newcomer's Floral Hills Funeral Home (7000 Blue Ridge Boulevard Kansas City MO 64133).

The funeral service will occur Friday, March 15, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, also at Newcomer's Floral Hills Funeral Home (7000 Blue Ridge Boulevard Kansas City MO 64133). A graveside service will follow the funeral from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Warrensburg Memorial Gardens, SW,228 MO -13, Warrensburg, MO 64097.