Dixie Lee Harder

Dixie Lee Harder, 84, of Yukon, Oklahoma, passed peacefully away at her home after battling renal failure. Dixie was born August 22, 1938 to Irwin and Thelma Tomlinson and Bell, California.

In her teenage years, Dixie moved to Las Vegas, Nevada and attended Basic High school in Henderson, Nevada. In 1954 she was crowned Miss Teen Henderson, Nevada. She then left high school to study and train to become a PBX operator at the Las Vegas business college. She graduated in 1961 and her first job was at the Stardust hotel. She later worked at several hotels in Las Vegas and watched her city grow. She started working for the Union Plaza casino/hotel in 1975 and retired in 1999, after 24 years of service.

In August 1966, she married Ken Harder, after a chance meeting due to a reservation error for Kens stay while in Vegas. He then had to go across the street to the Castaway hotel where Dixie was a PBX operator. Together they raised four children from Dixie's previous marriages, Pat Miller, Dale Taylor, Tracy (Taylor) Clemmens, and Randy Harder.

After the death of her spouse, Dixie and her son, Dale, moved to Oklahoma in 2000 to be closer to her daughter. She then filled her days with hobbies of crocheting, quilting, reading, and gardening. Her love for her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren kept her busy with letter writing and social media. She was baptized at First Christian Church in Yukon, Oklahoma and loved attending church with her friends.

She is survived by her four children, Pat (Donna) Miller, Dale Taylor, Tracy (Brad) Clemmens, Randy (Christina) Harder, 14 grandchildren, and 15 great grandchildren. She was preceded by death by her spouse, parents, and two step-brothers, along with many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Dixie will live forever in our hearts, with the loving stories we have of her memory to pass on to her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Private services will be held.