Dixie Jewel (Snowdy) Mabes

BUFFALO GAP: Dixie Jewel Mabes, 75, passed away at her house on Sunday, January 12, 2020. She was surrounded by her family at her time of passing. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, January 15, 2020, in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church, Buffalo Gap at 2:00 in the afternoon, officiated by Marcy Grun. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Fry~Smith Funeral Home, Tuscola. A visitation will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, January 14, from 5 to 7pm.

Dixie was born to Dixie and Alma (Tilly) Snowdy in Eden, North Carolina, on January 25, 1944. She grew up in Eden and met James Carlton Mabes, her future husband. Dixie and Jim were able to gain permission to marry from her parents, because of her age of fourteen and the laws in North Carolina, Jim and Dixie had to travel to Chesterfield, South Carolina, so they could marry. They married on May 19, 1957.

Dixie and Jim moved to California and then back to North Carolina where they opened their first auto body shop. Dixie worked in the shop doing the clerical side of the business, sanding, and masking off the autos for painting. While in North Carolina Dixie and Jim welcomed the birth of their children. They moved to Buffalo Gap in 1976 and opened Mabes Body Shop on FM 89. She was still active in the daily operations of the shop until her death.

Dixie, like most small business owners, enjoyed traveling and getting away from the shop for a few days. These trips often included a fishing trip. She was very much an “outdoor person”, with a green thumb for growing almost anything. Her favorite flower to grow was any kind of rose. The trips became more special when it included chasing her grandchildren. Dixie was a good wife, a good mom but a wonderful Grandma.

Dixie is survived by her husband, of sixty-one years, James Carlton Mabes; son James Clyde Mabes and wife Shirley and his children, James Andrew, Gabrielle Marie, Matthew Ethan; son Kenneth E. Mabes and children Felice, Alisha, Colby; daughters Judy Caroline Gusler and husband Gary, and their children Timothy and wife Lori, Jonathon and wife Jackalyn; daughter, Susan Gail Perkins and husband Mike and her children Seth Dakota Carter, Danielle Perry and her husband Cody; daughter Kimberly Hogan and husband Ken and their children Kenna and Kenzy Hogan; sister, Jane Massy. Dixie is also survived by great grandchildren, Chevelle, Alyce, Triston, Mercedes and Christina.

She preceded in death by her parents Dixie and Alma Snowdy, grandson Christopher Michael (dec 2007), and great grandson Christopher Michael (dec 2012), sister Dorothy Holcomb.

Condolences can be left at www.fry-smith.com.