Dixie O'Connell

Lifetime Coffeyville resident Dixie Kay O'Connell, 72, left her earthly body on April 23, 2018 in her house, surrounded by family members. Dixie was born June 19, 1945 in Coffeyville, Kansas, the daughter of Edward V. Miller and Bessie "Elaine" Abshier.

Dixie attended the Coffeyville Public School system and graduated from Field Kindley High School. While in High School, she was a member of the Drum Corp. After graduating, she attended Coffeyville Community College.

January 19, 1964, Dixie married John Joseph Benning. They had three children, Craig Eugene, Deborah Ann and Brenda Kay. John proceeded Dixie in death February 27, 1978. Dixie devoted the next few years to raising her children. She married Patrick N. O'Connell April 24, 1992, combining his children Kelly Diane and John Patrick into one family.

Dixie held just a few positions in her lifetime, all office positions. She worked at Coop Refinery, First United Methodist Church, Bell/Eck Heat & Air, and Apex Heat & Air. In 1997, she and a steering committee, formed Rural Water District # 14. Where she worked as an office manager, bookkeeper and assigned work information until her death.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, active in Drum Corp reunions and avid football fan. She could be found in the same reserved seats her parents sat in for the Red Raven football games. She loved to travel to all her grandchildren's activities. She passed on her love, laughter, travel and flowers to her daughters.

Survivors include her husband, Patrick, former American Family Insurance agent; 2 sons, Craig Benning and wife, Joyce, Mound Ridge, KS, John O'Connell and wife Terri Jo, Coffeyville, KS; 3 daughters, Deborah Henry and husband David, Wichita, KS, Brenda Larson, Wichita, KS and Kelly Hutchinson and her husband Richard, Bartlesville, OK. 1 brother, Larry Miller and wife Nancy, Poughkeepsie, NY; 2 sisters, Donna "Bunny" Justice and husband William "Bill", Muskogee, OK and Cheryl George and husband David, Wichita, KS; 11 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Bessie "Elaine" Miller, her husband John Benning and 1 grandchild, Christopher Sprague.

A Graveside service will be held May 12, 2018 at 1:00 pm at Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery, 2000 Woodland Ave., Coffeyville, KS. She will be placed next to her parents Edward V. and Bessie "Elaine" Miller, with Pastor David Kem of Trinity United Methodist Church officiating. Refreshments will be served at the O'Connell residents following the service. The family has requested in lieu of flowers, for memorials contributions be made payable to "The Ed and Elaine Miller Scholarship Fund" for Field Kindley High School recipients. Contributions may be left in care of Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel, 2405 Woodland Ave., Coffeyville, KS 67337.

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