Well, the family thought she would outlive us all, yet during her 100th year, Marjorie Ann (Spang) Hixon passed at her home in Ventura on September 3, 2024, comforted by her children and two of her grandchildren. Born on July 17, 1925, in Huron, South Dakota, Margie was the second of four daughters of Mark and Loretta (Weicherding) Spang. In 1939, the family immigrated to Ventura, where Margie finished her schooling, graduating from Ventura High School in 1943. In 1945, she met and married Rick Hixon, a Navy aviator, starting a long series of moves, though every tour of duty was in California. Eventually they adopted a son Mark in 1951 and a daughter Kelly in 1956. The family settled in Ventura in 1963 after a final 3-year military tour in Kenitra, Morocco.
Margie was always known as a popular party girl, especially when hanging out with her three sisters: Ruth Klitz, Phyllis Books, and JoAnn Held (all of whom predeceased her). A self-styled perfectionist, she ran a clean and organized household, keeping her wild kids in line. During Rick's long sea tours in the Navy, she worked diligently, completing the combined work of two parents. A golfer early on, Margie later became an avid tennis player, competing into her 80s. She loved interior decorating, traveling, and spending time with her grandkids, great grandkids and extended family. Extremely self-confident, stylish and blessed by what she calls "common sense" she was a keen investor and built a comfortable life. How she met Rick in her own words "We went to a dance at the Naval Air Station in Oxnard Ca. Four of my friends and myself were waiting at the gate for a ride into the auditorium when Ricky came along and asked us to ride with him. We accepted. I danced with him, and I had my first date a couple of weeks later. He gave me an engagement ring on January 2, 1945, which was a complete surprise to me!"
Following 50 years of marriage, Ricky passed in 1996, Margie eventually married an old family friend, Mick Miller in 2008, when Margie was 83 years old. And as the saying goes, he chased her until she caught him. Margie really felt the loss of Mick when he passed in 2019 after 13 years of marriage. Margie was a lucky woman to have two loves in her lifetime. Margie loved playing tennis until she was 85 years old. Her partner, Amber, was less than half her age. Amber spoke to Margie daily no matter what they both were doing. She loved to play Words with Friends, using her iPad, going on Facebook, going antique shopping, and especially loved her daily 4:30 "Tequila Time!"
Margie is survived by her two children: Mark Hixon and Kelly Shirk (Bill); Granddaughters, Chelsea Broeder (Stein), Amber Bersi (Eddie), and Alison Kenis
(Steven), and her grandson, Sean Hixon. She leaves six great-grandchildren: Cydnie Bersi-Gutierrez, Shelby Bersi, Nolan Broeder, Mila Broeder, Christine Kenis and Michael Kenis.
Family and friends are invited to a Memorial Funeral Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated Saturday, September 28, 2024, at 10:00am in the Mission Basilica San Buenaventura, 211 E. Main Street, Ventura, followed by a reception at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Hotel.
The family asks that guests bring only their fond memories to share and/or donations can be made in her name at St Jude's Hospital, where Margie has contributed for almost 50 years. We love you and miss you, Margie!
Arrangements are under the direction of the JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE, Ventura.