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Joyce Nixon
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Joyce Mae Nixon, 76, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 28.

She was born in Denver, Colorado to George and Helen (DeDe) Dickson on Sept. 20, 1931. The family moved to California in 1941. Joyce graduated from Marysville High School in 1949 and married Gerald (Jerry) Schilber that same year. They settled in Escalon where they raised four children. Joy Meeker and Mickey and Michelle Schilber still reside in Escalon. Marty Schilber lives in Santa Rosa, and Janay Brash lives in Kula, Maui, Hawaii.

There are eight grandsons and one granddaughter that live across the U.S. including Richard and Lori Meeker, Jimmy and Vanessa Schilber, and Michael Schilber, all of Modesto, Tambra and Chad Ryder of Chambers, Arizona, Patrick Schilber is a member of the Air Force and is currently stationed in Qatar, Kawika and Tina Brash of Sacramento, Alika and Analu Brash of the Hawaiian Homelands home their father built in Kula, Maui, Hawaii. She is also survived by six great-grandchildren and her brother, George Dickson Jr. and his wife Kathy of Greenfield, CA.

Joyce moved to Honolulu, Hawaii in 1970 where she met and married her husband of 35 years, William (Bill) Nixon. The two returned to northern California 18 years ago to Stockton, where Mr. Nixon is Vice President of Finance and CFO for PDM Steel. They moved to Escalon in 2000 where they bought and shared their home with Bobbie Millett, Joyce's aunt. Together they enjoyed hosting family events, traveling together, dancing, golfing, and their many friends.

Joyce was a lifelong member of San Joaquin Zoological Society where she had volunteered many hours as a docent at Micke Grove Zoo. She was part of a team that took animals and artifacts to schools and provided hands-on education about animals and their habitats to students and the elderly. She was also an avid golfer and a member of Oakdale Golf and Country Club nine hole women's group. She served as Treasurer of WNHGA, the Women's Nine Hole Golf Association. Joyce and Bill also shared a passion for dogs and cats. They spoiled several Old English Sheepdogs and Himalayan cats, along with the grandchildren, while living in the valley.

She will be best remembered by her family as the glue and inspiration that held her family together. The greatest gift she gave to her family and to her friends was patience and unconditional love.

Remembrances may be made to the Escalon Ambulance Fund and to The American Cancer Society.

A Celebration of Life service was Tuesday, Sept. 2 at 10:30 a.m. at Deegan Funeral Chapel, 1441 San Joaquin St. in Escalon with burial at Burwood Cemetery, 28320 East River Road in Escalon.

The Escalon (Calif.) Times

Sept. 3, 2008