Obituary of Dixie Aileen McCall

October 25, 1927 – Hanna, Alberta

February 26, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

Dixie McCall (nee Neff) of Calgary, AB, passed away on Monday, February 26, 2024, at the age of 96 years.

Dixie was born in Hanna, AB, on October 25, 1927. After living in Nelson, BC, and Kelowna, BC, she moved to Calgary, AB, with her parents circa 1940. Dixie attended Western Canada High School and upon graduation, Secretarial School.

In December 1950 she married Lt. Fred Robert McCall, Artillery Officer, and they were posted to Victoria, BC, for a short time. When Fred was posted to Korea, Dixie went back to Calgary to work for Mannix Ltd. and was assigned to a project in Chicoutimi, QC, for a year and a half. When Fred returned from Korea they were posted to Picton, ON, where their daughter was born. Dixie and Fred served and lived in a variety of places including, Winnipeg, MB, Hemer, Germany, Oromocto, NB, Brandon, MB, Toronto, ON, a semi-diplomatic posting in El Paso, Texas, the Ottawa area, and finally they retired in Calgary.

Dixie made lovely homes in all the places she lived and was among the women who worked and raised their families at the same time, before it was considered a common practice. She held various secretarial and administrative assistant roles including the Prairie Farm Administration, the Industrial Commission in Brandon, Manitoba, working for a well-known lawyer, and working for an MP on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

Dixie volunteered, supported, and canvassed for a variety of causes including the Red Cross, the Lung Association, the Cancer Society, Screen Test, and the Victorian Order of Nurses.

Dixie was an avid gardener, a talented sewist, and a superb rug hooker. Dixie was a proud life member of the Chinook Guild of Fibre Arts. She had an eye for colour and design especially when it came to home décor. She had a special talent for hosting people and making friends wherever she went.

Dixie is survived by her only daughter Tracy and her husband John Fewster of Calgary; granddaughters, Shannon and Sarah Fewster; great-granddaughter Celeste, and grandsons-in-law, Andrew Hunter and Jeff Jacklin, all from Ontario. Dixie is predeceased by her husband Fred, her parents, Mable and Ed Neff; and her brother Bob Neff.

A Gathering for Remembrance will be held at McInnis & Holloway (Crowfoot, 82 Crowfoot Circle NW, Calgary, AB), on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at 2:00 p.m.

Family and friends who are unable to attend in person are invited to join Mrs. McCall’s service streamed live (see link below) on the day of the service. For those who are unable to view live, a recording of the service will be posted.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter, PO Box 93031 RPO Stampede, Calgary, AB T2G 9Z9 Telephone: (403)290-1552,  https://www.calgarywomensshelter.com/index.php/give/individual or to S.T.A.R.S. (Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society), Box 570, 1441 Aviation Park N.E., Calgary, AB T2E 8M7 Telephone: (403) 295-1811, www.stars.ca.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Dixie’s family here.

In living memory of Dixie McCall, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Crowfoot, 82 Crowfoot Circle NW, Calgary, AB T3G 2T3, Telephone: 403-241-0044.

Click to Sign the Video Guest Book and Watch Dixie McCall's Funeral Service