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On January 5, 2016 the world lost a beautiful light when Phyllis Mae Nixon Gorton was called home to heaven. Born December 12, 1930 to the late Sydney and Violetta Nixon in Brattleboro Vermont, Phyllis was one of 7 children. As a young girl Phyllis loved adventure and at the age of 12 scrounged up all her allowance to take a ride with a barnstormer. She met her husband and love of her life Everett Gorton at the age of 8 when he asked her out for an ice cream. She ran all the way home after the invitation but he continued to pursue her and they married May 10, 1952. The adventures continued when, as a military wife Phyllis travelled where her husband was stationed and lived in Germany, France, The Philippines and several USA locations. She often would travel alone with her 5 children to meet her husband in their new home. Phyllis worked as a photography assistant at Browns Studio in Brattleboro Vermont, a Dental Assistant in Brattleboro and Clark AFB The Philippines, and a teacher's aide at The Cerebral Palsy Center in San Antonio as well as Nellie Redding Center working with special needs children. Her hobbies included photography, ceramics, sewing, traveling, camping, volunteer work and spending time with friends and family. Phyllis loved giving back to the community and volunteered as a Girl Scout Leader, and was active in the Wilford Hall Medical Center Volunteer Association, NCO wives club, St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Friendship House. She was instrumental in the founding of St. Padre Pio Catholic Church where she served as a Sacristan and hospitality greeter. Many people from St. Padre Pio stated that her smile and warm welcoming personality were the first things they remembered when they first entered the church. Her awards included Mother of The Year at Lackland AFB and The Lumen Gentium Award. Her greatest joy in life was her family. Her granddaughters remember the "tea parties" she would host for them where they were able to play dress up and wear hats from her vintage collection. She loved spending time in the summer and fall with friends and family at her childhood home in Brattleboro Vermont. For 20 years Phyllis and Everett worked with their son Michael and daughter in law Shelley to put together a Nixon Family Calendar filled with family photographs, stories and important family dates. She leaves behind her husband of 63 years Everett Gorton, their 5 children and spouses D Jay Gorton, Jan and Darrell Steidley, Michael and Shelley Gorton, Jill and Donald Vermeulen, Mary Begia Henderson and Damon Henderson. Their grandchildren Jeff Gorton, Erin Nussle, JR, Wayne and Tasha Steidley, Jason Chronis, Alaina, Landon and Lance Gorton, Ashley, Bailey and David Vermeulen and Blake and Ryan Begia. Additional family are Christine Gorton, Roger Nussle, Traci Gorton and Bruce Begia, M.D. Her siblings and spouses Joyce Larsen, Bernard and Ellie Nixon, Claire and Tom Tyminski and Marie and David Tarbox, along with many nieces and nephews She was preceded in death by Gloria Nixon Barrett, Jack Barrett, Sydney Jean Nixon and Neil Larsen. Her family wishes to thank the compassionate dedicated nurses, doctors and staff from Gentiva Hospice and In patient unit, North Central Baptist Intensive Care Unit and the dedicated caring staff at Mission Park Funeral Home. Her family also wishes to thank Maria and Joe Ramirez with The Last Straw Florist for their beautiful floral contribution. Her countless friends and family described her as a kind, loving woman with a beautiful smile with a perpetually positive nature who had the ability to make everyone around her feel welcome and loved. The light she shone on this earth along with the enduring education she provided her children and students will be missed but we will all have a bright shining star watching us from Heaven. SERVICES Visitation will be on Sunday, January 10, 2016 from 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. with a Rosary at 6:00 P.M. at Mission Park Funeral Chapels North, 3401 Cherry Ridge Drive. The Funeral Mass will be at 11:00 A.M. at The Shrine of St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina Catholic Church, 3843 Bulverde Parkway. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be to either Padua Place, 80 Peter Baque, San Antonio, Texas 78209 or to The Shrine of St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina Catholic Church, 3843 Bulverde Parkway, San Antonio, Texas 78259.

Tributes

Phyllis Mae Nixon Gorton

December 12, 1930 - January 5, 2016