Joe Dale Nix

Joe Dale Nix was born June 13, 1932 in Whitt, Texas to George Isom and Snowie Belle Nix. He passed away December 27, 2015 at age 83.
   Growing up on Edna Street, on the north side of Weatherford, he had lots of family surrounding him, including many cousins. Joe Dale developed a strong handshake milking the family cow as a young boy. He and his sister Lenora went to work early on in life to help their family climb out of the depression years. Joe Dale held various jobs included painting houses with his dad and delivering telegrams by a one speed bicycle for Western Union. He always said that Weatherford may look flat, but when you get on a one speed bicycle, you realize that it isn't very flat at all and he did a lot of walking that bike to make those telegram deliveries. He delivered a telegram once from Winston Churchill to Douglas Chandor when he was twelve years old. It was a thank you note for a painting that Chandor had done for Churchill and Joe enjoyed telling the story of Chandor's reaction when he realized it was from Churchill.
   Joe Dale graduated from Weatherford High School in 1949. He enjoyed telling everyone that he graduated from high school with Peter Pan's (Mary Martin) son, Larry Hagman, who later starred in I Dream of Jeannie and later Dallas' J.R. Ewing. Larry finally came to their 50th high school reunion and wore his ten gallon hat.
   He was a Staff Sergeant in the US Air Force during the Korean War, 1952-1956, US Intelligence Service. He spent basic training in San Antonio. After his honorable discharge from the Air Force in 1956, Joe completed his BBA in 1958, and then sold electronics for LTV and Pitney Bowes while working on his Masters of Education. Joe's teaching career began in 1964, moving his family from Denton to Lipan and then to Santo in 1966. His passion for education was his belief that he could help students make the best of their education and give them a good start in life. Joe retired from school teaching in 1976 and spent his retirement years buying and selling real estate and raising cattle. In his retirement years, he loved to travel and raise cattle. He always said that Palo Pinto County was one of the prettiest places on Earth and never grew tired of the beauty surrounding Santo.
   Joe Dale was a believer in Jesus Christ and member of United Methodist Church – Santo, Starr Bowen, pastor. Joe met the love of his life, Sue Cornelius, and they were married on February 27th, 1954, when both were just 21 years old. Two children were born during his military service, a daughter, Laurie, in Weatherford and a son, Michael, in Hawaii.
   Joe is survived by his wife: Naomi Sue Cornelius Nix; daughter: Laurie Nix Daugherty and husband, Robert Guy Daugherty; son: Joel Michael Nix and wife, Terri George Nix; grandchildren: Matthew Ryan Nix and Denise Golden Nix; Robert William Daugherty; Mary Katherine Nix; Jonathan Riley Nix and Christy Lou Brashares Nix; great grandchildren: Ava Grace Nix; Benjamin Ryan Nix; Samuel James Nix; sisters -~Lenora Nix Warren; Georgia Nix Phillips; nieces and nephews: Roger Dale Warren and wife Linda; Lonnie Ray Warren and wife Terry; Joie Marie Warren Woody and husband Craig; Kelly Denise Phillips Burchak and husband Rob; Thomas Lee Phillips and wife Sarah.
   He was a wonderful friend, son, brother, uncle, husband, daddy, granddaddy and great granddaddy and will be missed. We are praising God that he is rejoicing in Heaven with Jesus and reuniting with loved ones.




Funeral Services will be held 10:00 a.m., Saturday, January 2, 2016 at Galbreaith Pickard Funeral Chapel. Burial will follow at Newberry Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch or the Methodist Children’s Home.