Lamar High School Alumni
Arlington, Texas (TX)
In Memory of
Porcher, Dixie Joe Miller
Passed away 2005
Porcher, Dixie Joe Miller was faculty at Lamar High School in Arlington, TX.
Faculty
Date of Passing Dec 28, 2005
Date of Passing Dec 28, 2005
The following obituary was published in the Fort Worth Star Telegram:
Dixie Joe Miller Porcher 1940 - 2005 Dixie Joe Miller Porcher, 65, loving mother, grandmother, teacher and friend, was called home to her Lord and Master on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2005.
Funeral: 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, at Grace Lutheran Church in Arlington, with Pastor David Joeckel officiating. Burial: Moore Memorial Gardens. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Grace Lutheran Church, 210 W. Park Row Drive, Arlington, Texas 76010, or a charity of choice in Dixie's memory.
She was born Feb. 6, 1940, to Joseph Floyd Miller and Hazel Viola Stricklan Miller in Fort Smith, Ark. She graduated from Van Buren High School in Arkansas in 1956. She attended Fort Smith Junior College (now the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith) and Texas Woman's University in Denton, receiving both bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees in education/chemistry in 1960 and her master's degree from the University of North Texas in 1988. Other educational interests included graduate teaching assistant in the Department of Chemistry at Texas Woman's University and cancer research at Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas.
Dixie was an awesome teacher who inspired thousands of students who came to love her during her 40 years of service in the Arlington ISD. She taught at Ousley and Ferguson junior highs and Lamar and Martin high schools, teaching primarily chemistry, but also other sciences and vocational occupational education.
As a young girl and teen-ager, Dixie became an accomplished swimmer, ballerina and roller skater, frequently performing with a championship skater from Germany who had immigrated to the United States. In her later years, she became an avid gardener, a love that continued throughout the rest of her life. Her greatest accomplishments were the prize irises, roses and orchids she grew, her favorite flowers. She also adored her grandchildren, spending quality time with them, just as she always adored her precious daughters.
The family would like to thank Drs. Mark Batrice and Dr. Francis Tacka and the staff at Kindred Hospital, as well as Pastor David Joeckel, for their compassionate and loving care during the last few months of her illness.
Preceding her in death were her parents, Joseph Floyd and Hazel Viola Miller; and a daughter, Elizabeth Chevallier.
Survivors: Daughter, Annalisa Porcher; grandchildren, Tiffany and Samantha Chevallier of Maypearl and Josh, Elizabeth and Jacob Jackson of Arlington; and many, many friends.
Dixie Joe Miller Porcher 1940 - 2005 Dixie Joe Miller Porcher, 65, loving mother, grandmother, teacher and friend, was called home to her Lord and Master on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2005.
Funeral: 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, at Grace Lutheran Church in Arlington, with Pastor David Joeckel officiating. Burial: Moore Memorial Gardens. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Grace Lutheran Church, 210 W. Park Row Drive, Arlington, Texas 76010, or a charity of choice in Dixie's memory.
She was born Feb. 6, 1940, to Joseph Floyd Miller and Hazel Viola Stricklan Miller in Fort Smith, Ark. She graduated from Van Buren High School in Arkansas in 1956. She attended Fort Smith Junior College (now the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith) and Texas Woman's University in Denton, receiving both bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees in education/chemistry in 1960 and her master's degree from the University of North Texas in 1988. Other educational interests included graduate teaching assistant in the Department of Chemistry at Texas Woman's University and cancer research at Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas.
Dixie was an awesome teacher who inspired thousands of students who came to love her during her 40 years of service in the Arlington ISD. She taught at Ousley and Ferguson junior highs and Lamar and Martin high schools, teaching primarily chemistry, but also other sciences and vocational occupational education.
As a young girl and teen-ager, Dixie became an accomplished swimmer, ballerina and roller skater, frequently performing with a championship skater from Germany who had immigrated to the United States. In her later years, she became an avid gardener, a love that continued throughout the rest of her life. Her greatest accomplishments were the prize irises, roses and orchids she grew, her favorite flowers. She also adored her grandchildren, spending quality time with them, just as she always adored her precious daughters.
The family would like to thank Drs. Mark Batrice and Dr. Francis Tacka and the staff at Kindred Hospital, as well as Pastor David Joeckel, for their compassionate and loving care during the last few months of her illness.
Preceding her in death were her parents, Joseph Floyd and Hazel Viola Miller; and a daughter, Elizabeth Chevallier.
Survivors: Daughter, Annalisa Porcher; grandchildren, Tiffany and Samantha Chevallier of Maypearl and Josh, Elizabeth and Jacob Jackson of Arlington; and many, many friends.
Keith Julson '74 said:
I had Ms. Porcher for senior Chemistry at Lamar High School in the 1973-74 school year. One weekend, at church, once the service was over, I was helping my dad (who was just beginning to occasionally need a wheelchair by this time) to leave, and my younger brother was with us, when I heard this voice behind us ask "Keith?". I turned to see who it was and much to my surprise stood Ms. Porcher! Introductions were made, we talked for a bit and then went on our way. But think about it.... what are the odds that your high school chemistry teacher would also go to your church? But wait, it gets better.
Either later that week or the following week (sadly at my age I cannot remember when exactly) but after class we had a very pleasant and another even more incredible "You've got to be kidding!" moment. We talked about the church and knowing I went to Lamar, where I lived now. I told her in The Oaks edition off of North Bowen Road. That surprised her, as we would go to a church basically on the other side of town. (You gotta remember, back in '74 Arlington wasn't as big as it is now.) I mentioned we'd been going to the church since before I started elementary school. Still curious, she asked what elementary school did I go to and I told her Crow Elementary. I think that intrigued her because she next asked what street did we use to live on, so I said Coke Drive. That surprised her but what came next just astounded both of us. She asked if I remember what the address was and of course I did, 1104. Yupp, 1104 Coke Drive, just down the street from Crow Elementary School, which also just so happened to be the same house she was living in!!! I couldn't believe me, and neither could she. Think about it. My high school Chemistry teacher is living in our old house!!! What are the odds?? Not only did we both go to the same church but she was also living in our old house!
To this day I still think the reason why I passed Chemistry is because I used to tease her that I know your floor plan. ROFL
Ms. Porcher, there are only three high school teachers I still remember quite fondly to this day: Ms. Giammarco (Biology); Ms. Denson (English - both sophomore and senior) and yourself. I know I struggled with learning chemistry but you were always so very patient, understanding and encouraging along the way. I am so very grateful to you. God bless you and may you rest in peace. I know one day we will see each other again.
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