Anne Harwell Dickson Obituary (1936 - 2020)

Susan Anne Harwell Dickson, age 83, passed from this life on May 3, 2020 unexpectedly. She was born in Athens, Georgia to James Willie Harwell and Mary Louise Roberts Harwell on June 21, 1936. The family moved to Watkinsville, Georgia where Anne began her education and the development of her vast talents including cooking, sewing, and music. The family then moved to Tifton, Georgia where Anne graduated from Tift County High School in 1954. In 1955, she married her high school sweetheart, Ronald David Dickson. They moved to Atlanta, Georgia for Ronald to attend the Georgia Tech College of Civil Engineering with Anne working to raise her newborn son and to support Ronald's education. After his graduation, Anne continued her education at Georgia State College and Furman University. Together Ronald and Anne lived in South Carolina, North Carolina, Louisiana, and Texas, moving with Ronald's work. While in South Carolina she completed the Special Enrollment Examination through the Internal Revenue Service being one of the top 20 candidates tested nationwide becoming a highly recognized employee of the S. D. Leidersdorf & Co accounting firm while continuing to be the chief cook, housekeeper, and Dickson family manager. She and Ronald retired in Monroe, Louisiana. In Monroe, Anne became a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood where she served to support many projects benefiting others. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Monroe where she actively served as a part of the women's ministry until Ronald's health turned. Ronald's ill health and a home fire caused an abrupt move to Tomball, Texas where she would complete her years of service on this earth caring for Ronald until his passing. Anne was preceded in death by her mother and father and her loving husband of over 60 years, Ronald. Anne and Ronald's love for each other and their commitment to their family deepened as the years passed. Anne leaves her sister, Linda Harwell Sloyer; a son, David Dickson and his wife Ann; a daughter, Elizabeth Dickson Goodrich and her husband Larry; five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. She continued throughout her life to be the constant source of wisdom, grace, grit, and enduring love for her family. Family memories include singing to her beautiful piano playing, playing family card games with lots of laughter, losing many games of Trivial Pursuit to Anne's exceptional memory and intelligence, and working without pause to complete the most challenging puzzles. At her request, Anne's body was donated to the University of Texas Medical School willed body program. A memorial service will be held at the Lakewood United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas when social distancing rules related to the current COVID19 pandemic permit. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in her memory to a church or charity of choice.