The North Georgia News

Blairsville, GA  30512

www.nganews.com

 

(no corrections have been made, this is exactly as it appeared in paper)

 

 

December 24, 2003                    Page 5B

 

buz dehler

 

Buz Dehler, age 73 of Blairsville, GA passed away on Friday, December 5 at his home following an extended illness.

Mr. Dehler was born on December 20, 1929, in Jamaica, New York, the son of the late Henry Dehler and Sophie Heilman Dehler.  He served in the U.S. navy for 1948 to 1952.  Mr. Dehler moved to Miami, Florida in the early 60’s and worked as a police officer in the city of Golden Beach, then as a Detective with the city of Miami.  He worked as a Federal Government Sky Marshall to protect commercial flights from hijackings.  He became a Federal Customs Patrol Officer in 1959 and retired as Major with customs in 1981, at which time he moved to Lake Wales, Florida.  He became a Guardian Ad Litem, as an officer of the court to protect children’s rights in the court system.

Mr. Dehler moved to Blairsville, Georgia in 1997, where he became a member of St. Clare’s Episcopal Church.  He has long been an advocate for the care of homeless animals, and could often be found feeding strays in town.  He was a member of National Association of Retired Federal Employees and the American Rifle Association.

Surviving Mr. Dehler is his wife of 22 years, Carol Williams Dehler; a son and daughter-in-law, Kevin and Kimberly Kivi of Miami, Florida, a son and daughter-in-law, John and Coletta Kivi of Orlando, Florida, and two grandsons, Jonathan Kivi and Kyle Kivi.  He is also survived by a brother and sister-in-law, George and Andrea Dehler of Long Island, New York and a brother, Robert Dehler of Long Beach, New York.  Many other friends and relatives also survive.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, December 10 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Clare’s Episcopal Church with the Reverend Susan Johnson officiating.  The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Humane Society Mountain Shelter, 2079 Bowling Gap Circle, Blairsville, GA 30512 on Mr. Dehler’s memory. 

Mountain View Funeral Home of Blairsville was in charge of arrangements.

 

The North Georgia News

Blairsville, GA  30512

www.nganews.com

 

(no corrections have been made, this is exactly as it appeared in paper)

 

 

December 24, 2003                    Page 5B

 

esker bridges

 

Mr. Esker Bridges, age 100, native and lifelong resident of Union County, Georgia, passed away on Monday, December 15, 2003 in Union County Nursing Home in Blairsville.

Mr. Bridges was born in Union County, Georgia, on Monday, June 1, 1903, a son of the late Alfred Bridges and Polly Thacker Bridges.  Mr. Bridges was a retired farmer and member of Old Union Baptist Church.  His first wife, Julia Irene McClure Bridges, preceded him in death.

Surviving are his wife, Bonnie Shuler Bridges of Blairsville; a son, Robert Bridges of Blairsville; daughter, Minnie Belle Keys of Young Harris, Georgia; step daughters, Pearl Brown of Forest City, Arkansas and Jo Ann Plott of Young Harris; grandsons, Donald Keys of Young Harris and Eugene Bridges of Blairsville; granddaughters, Gail Spurr of Ft. Worth, TX and Brenda Bridges Lee of Buford, Georgia; step grandchildren, Roger Plott of Young Harris; Tanya Hargraves of Memphis, TN, Cindy Imholff of Jacksonville, FL; great grandchildren, Amanda Arenivar of Wichita Falls, TX, Alecia Ellis and Monica Spurr, both of Ft. Worth, TX, Jessica Young, Tiffany and Brittany Keys of Young Harris, Josh and Britt Bridges of Blairsville; great-great grandchildren, Alexis Arenivar, Andranna Arenivar, Haley Spurr, Jaycelin Young; step great-great grandchildren, Haley Hargraves, Nikkie Hammer, Alison Oats, Lee Ann Oats, Christopher Imholff; many other relatives and friends also survive.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 at 2:00 pm in the chapel of Cochran Funeral Home of Blairsville with Rev. Jimmy Rogers and Rev. Jerry Helton officiating.  Special music was presented by The Benny Shook family.  The following gentlemen served as Pallbearers, Junior Bridges, James Bridges, Wayne Hughes, Jackie Adams, Darrin Bridges and Daryl Bridges.  The following gentlemen served as honorary escort to the family, Terry Hughes, Earl Land, Ricky Bridges, Roger Plott and Wayne Collins.  Burial was in Old Union Baptist Church Cemetery.  Cochran Funeral Home of Blairsville was entrusted by the family for the arrangements.

 

 

The North Georgia News

Blairsville, GA  30512

www.nganews.com

 

(no corrections have been made, this is exactly as it appeared in paper)

 

 

December 24, 2003                    Page 5B

 

dr. pierce kendal dixon, jr.

 

            Memorial services for Dr. Pierce Kendal Dixon, Jr., age 80, were held on December 19, 2003 at First United Methodist Church.  The Rev. Dr. Gerald S. Thurman, the Rev. Dr. Hugh Cauthen and the Rev. Dr. Philip DeMore officiated.

            Dr. Dixon died Wednesday, December 17, 2003 at Lanier Park Hospital, following an extended illness.  He was born April 7, 1923, to Emma Adamson Dixon and Pierce K. Dixon, near Jonesboro, Georgia, where he grew up.  P.K. attended Emory at Oxford and then Emory University before attending Emory Medical School.  During this time he married his childhood sweetheart, Mary Frances Carter.  After military service in the late forties, he trained at the Old Forty, the VA Hospital, then in Chamblee, finishing his formal education in General Surgery in 1954.

            P.K. and Mary Frances then moved to Gainesville, Georgia with their three young children, Carol, Ken and Susan and Brad later followed.  He entered the private practice of General Surgery with P.K. Brown that year.  He was the thirteenth doctor in Hall County on his arrival.  For many years, P.K. and the other General Surgeons were responsible for most all surgical emergencies in North Georgia, since there were no other surgical specialties.  He took very seriously this grave responsibility for which many families owe him much, even now.  As medicine changed and Gainesville grew, P.K.’s career as a surgeon and physician evolved.  He gave up orthopedics, neurosurgery and plastic surgery as more specialties became a part of the Gainesville medical community.  P.K. was not only recognized for his medical skills, but also was greatly loved and respected by his patients and their families for his genuine care and compassion toward each one of them.

            Over the years, P.K. developed a love for Gainesville High School.  He arranged the Gainesville football games as the doctor on the sidelines.  This left a few generations of young men behind with their own memories of the Doc.

            Dr. Dixon was a leader in medical care in North Georgia and in the state.  He was Chief of Staff at Hall County Hospital more than once.  He was on the State Board of Health and served his last years on it as its Chairman.  But P.K. had a vision of a small hospital that could rapidly change with the times, and so he put himself fully into the building of a new hospital that became Lanier Park Hospital.  Although he did not own a brick there, it was always P.K.’s hospital.  He was just proud of bringing about the birth of an institution with the sole focus of improving patient care.

            P.K. was both Jaycee Young Man of the Year and Rotary man of the Year.  He was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons his entire career.  P.K. was always a mover and a shaker.  He had a wealth of energy, a love of his fellow man and a drive to see things improve.  He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, which he loved and he headed its Finance Committee years ago.  Most of all, in his seldom spoken beliefs and faiths, he was a Christian who believed in doing good works for his fellow man.  Every day of this life was full of them.   He was instrumental in training several generations of nurses.

            Despite his successes and prestige in the community, P.K. was always unpretentious.  He loved his old farm clothes, his beat up truck and the outdoors.  He was just P.K. to anybody and everybody, no matter what their status.

            In spite of all P.K.’s other accomplishments, he was a family man as well.  He loved his family.  As the children married, he became close in turn to Ronnie, Connie, bill and Sherri.  He loved each of his ten grandchildren and his two great-grandchildren.  He leaves a large extended family.  He was a good Poppie and P.K. to his grandchildren, sons, daughters and wife.  He loved them all and was in turn very loved.  His beloved companion of 57 years, Mary Frances, gave unconditional support throughout the years and she was unswerving in her care and devotion to him in his final years.

            P.K.’s last years were of ill health, as several strokes took their toll.  As he gave up the things of his youth and then his independence, he shouldered his burdens with good cheer, courage and grace.  His wonderful smile and spirit will be sorely missed, but long remembered by his patients, friends, nurses, doctors and family.  The many people of North Georgia whose lives were touched have always told of their love for him.  He had more friends than a man could have asked for, but he had them because he was a friend to man.

            Dr. P.K. was preceded in death by his parents, Pierce K. and Emma Adamson Dixon, his brother and sister-in-law, Jean D. Cobb and Paul Cobb and his brother-in-law, Fred Carter.  Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Mary Frances Carter Dixon, his daughter and son-in-law, Carol D. Whitmire and Dr. Ronald N. Whitmire, his son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Pierce Kendal Dixon III and Connie W. Dixon, his daughter and son-in-law, Susan D. Brooksher and Bill Brooksher, his son and daughter-in-law, Dr. David Bradley Dixon and Sherri K. Dixon, all of Gainesville.  His ten grandchildren are Dr. Amy Whitmire of Nashville, TN, Julie Whitmire of Atlanta, Christ and Liesa Dixon, Laura Dixon, Heather Dixon, Billy Brooksher, Mary Frances Brooksher, Emily Brooksher, Matthew Dixon and Rebecca Kixon, all of Gainesville.  His two great-grandchildren are Heather and Anthony Dixon.  He is also survived by his brother, Wilbur A. Dixon and his sister-in-law, Martha S. Dixon, and sister-in-law, Mary P. Carter and numerous nieces and nephews.