We Remember
CHURCHMAN, Dixie Lee
September 7, 1956 — June 15, 2019
Dixie died at home with dignity surrounded by her loving family on June 15, 2019 at the age of 62. Survived by her loving husband of 43 years, Ken; her daughter Rebecca (Kordell) Davis, and son Tyler; her sister Daisy (Ron) Franks, and brothers Mitch Sanbrooks and Burke (Liana) Sanbrooks; her mother June Sanbrooks and mother-in-law Lauretta Churchman; and numerous nieces, nephews and family. She was predeceased by her father Gerald Sanbrooks and father-in-law Robert Churchman.
Dixie was born in Moose Jaw, SK. but the family relocated to Kelowna in 1961. After growing up in Kelowna she went to Vancouver to do the BCIT nursing program where she met the love of her life, Ken. After graduation she returned to Kelowna to start her nursing career at KGH. While there she enjoyed great camaraderie with many colleagues, and she stayed there until she finished nursing in 2014. Away from work she enjoyed cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, motorcycle riding, gardening, hiking with her friends, and walking the greenway with dogs. Her children were the pride and joy of her life. The family would like to thank Dr. Rachel Carver and the BC Cancer clinic for their years of support.
“A life cut short, but lived to the fullest”
Should family and friends so desire, memorial donations may be made to the charity of their choosing in lieu of flowers. If you wish to send a condolence, post photos or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area called “Condolences.”
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Condolences
My lifelong amazing friend you will be sorely missed. Condolences to your family You are all in our thoughts What a gift she was to us all and inspiration and joy.
Love Always.
Winnie and family
What an honor to have worked with and known this amazing woman. Forever in my heart 💔 much love to Ken and the family.
Many condolences to the family. Dixie was a conworker and she was always a delight to work with. Loved her beautiful smile!
My condolences to you all.. I will always treasure the times I worked in ICU with Dixie..She was an amazing person..always smiling and cheerful .. I was blessed to know her.
Very sad to here this news, she was always such a joyful and compassionate person that truly cared and loved so many people. Huge hugs to all,,
Love, Joan
My deepest sympathy to the family
I worked with Dixie in icu.. a great coworker and an amazing person.. she was always smiling
She will be missed
My deepest condolences to Dixie’s family! Dixie was apart of my ICU family for over 20 years! I will miss her smile ,her wit and her no filter words of wisdom. Dixie loved life and all that it offered and the more obstacles in her way the more she fought until she could not fight anymore! I will miss you my friend !
To Ken, Becca, Tyler, and family, today our hearts are truly broken. Dixie and I met and became friends when we were in grade one. Although we lost contact over the years, we rekindled our friendship when my husband and I bought the house right next door to Ken and Dixie 3o years ago and where we have remained ever since. Over the years I have watched Dixie endure and overcome unimaginable health challenges, but for Dixie, that’s what they were, a challenge!! If you put a roadblock in front of Dixie, she is either going to jump over it, snowmobile through it, ride her motorcycle around it, paddleboard across it, or hike her way out of it!! Dixie loved life and lived every day with kindness, determination, humour, positivity and strength, which was inspirational to me and everyone she knew. I am dearly going to miss our wonderful talks over the fence where we solved all the worlds problems. It’s time for you to rest now my friend! No more problems, no more worries, only peace. I love you and will think of you every day.
I was an LPN co- worker of Dixies’ on the former 2east at KGH from 1978 to 1981.I enjoyed working
with her and will always remember her contagious smile and kind heart.My sincere condolences to the family.I am so sorry.
Dear Tyler and family, please accept my sincere condolences . Dixie was full of light and joy and I felt it over Fb in her message about Venus. I am so sorry.
Martha
I was shocked to hear about Dixie’s passing. She’s been on my mind so much and I’m kicking myself for not staying in touch. I’m so sorry for that.
I will miss that smile and laugh, and her sense of humour and zest for life. We had some great times hiking and at our shared meals with Susan and Harold.
You have lost the love of your life, and the best Mom in the world! I will miss her.
We’ll be back in Kelowna in the fall and will be in touch when we get there.
Pam and Rodney
Rest in peace my dear Dixie. My thoughts are with you and your family. Lots of love 😍
Our hearts and thoughts are with you all at this sad time. Dixie was a beautiful, wonderful and caring Person. She was an inspiration to our girls, especially Tam. Tam was thrilled to have been able to try on the nursing cap that Dixie received upon her graduation from nursing. Cherish the memories.
Heartfelt condolences, Dixie was an amazing sole , she will be missed
I am so sorry for your loss. Dixie was an amazing person, she fought so hard to the end.. 💕
Dear June & Families
We are so very sorry for such a loss. Our prayers and condolences to you all .
Take care
Dale & Shannon Rutter
My beautiful , amazing life long friend you will be sorely missed. You are a joy that delighted us and the strongest person I know. Love and heartfelt condolences to the entire family. She will remain forever in our hearts.
Love Akways
Winnie
Our Deepest condolences to all the FAMILY Dixie was a very special person that everyone loved she will always be in our heart .
Accept our condolences on the loss of Dixie. To the Light’s the Sanbrooks are our Family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all
I’m sorry to hear that sweet, loving, talented Dixie has passed way. I will always thank you and Ken for showing me the way to enjoy the sport of snowmobiling.
So sorry for your loss, Ken and family.
Marcy Dimsdale / Mrs. Yamaha.
Ken : To you and your family , we wanted to express our sincere condolences on Dixies passing . It is times like this family and friends are such a blessing during these difficult times .
So sad to stumble across this sad news. I too worked many years along side Dixie in KGH ICU. She was a pleasure to work with and always positive in her outlook on life. Many great memories of Dixie. My sincere condolences to the family. She will be missed.
I knew Dixie most as a teenager when we were involved in Search. Her vibrant faith and zest for life set her apart then and in each of our sporadic connections through the years. A woman who embraced life to the fullest and lived with great joy! She will be missed.
Tyler, I always enjoyed listening to the wonderful and humorous stories you shared about your mom and it was obvious how much you loved and cared for her. It was so great to hear of such closeness between a mother and her son. I’m sending you a warm hug during this sad time.
Dear Ken and family. I am so sad to hear of the passing of the light of your life. I only met Dixie a couple of times. Over the years between Stan and Donna and Aunt Lauretta I heard of Dixie’s struggles with her health. All of you had a will of iron, especially Dixie, to keep fighting. May all the great times you shared ease the pain of losing a wife, mother and friend. Your cousin Helen
Dear Ken and Family,
So sorry this message comes to you so late. Just heard this sad news from your mom Ken and we are so sorry for your loss. Dixie was a truly courageous woman,wife and mother and she will be deeply missed by all the people she has touched both personally and professionally.I came across this quote and I thought of Dixie . Those we hold closest to our hearts never truly leave us. They live on in the kindness they have shared and the love they brought into our lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all . Jean and Don Cameron and Children
To the Sanbrooks family, Mrs Sanbrooks, Daisy, Mitch and Burke; my deepest condolences on your loss of Dixie. You were all a big part of my childhood, always welcoming me in your family, my heart aches for you, hoping your lovely memories of her will help you through this difficult time. ❤️