Jessie Mae "Chic" Dykes Dillard

Memorial services for Jessie Mae "Chic" Dykes Dillard, 88, of Huntington will be held Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. in the Carroway Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Cary Modisett officiating. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Carroway Funeral Home.

Chic was born August 26, 1924 in Angelina County, Texas, one of five daughters and four sons of the late Mittie Mae (Blake) and Jess E. Dykes. She passed away Saturday, March 9, 2013 in Baytown, Texas at the home of her youngest daughter, Jody.

Chic grew up loving the outdoors, fishing, hunting and camping and could best most anyone with a gun, fishing pole or a game of 42. She was beautiful, strong, independent and witty. She was lovely and could dance all night, making breakfast for you in the morning.

At the age of 16, having 1 brother a prisoner of war for 2 years in Korea and her 3 other brothers joining the fight, she ran away and joined the United States Women's Army Corps (WAC). She remained a patriot for life. She served as a transportation specialist and drove ambulances, as her brothers had taught her to love fast cars. She left the WACS as she welcomed her first daughter into the world.

She was a homemaker who also took care of several broiler houses and cattle alone most of the time. She had her second daughter and also began a new career as a hairdresser/cosmetologist. Chic owned several salons through the years and had many faithful clients as she was quite lovely and loved to make others look and feel good. She welcomed her third child and her oldest grandson into the world in 1965. It is said that she and her daughter looked like sisters and people didn't know who was "granny".

After retiring from beauty work, Chic again entered a new chapter of her life and as a representative of the Deep East Texas Council of Government (DETCOG), assisted older workers in securing employment. She remained the life of the party and active until the past few years, and as her body failed her became a resident of the Huntington Health Care facility. She remained spirited and kept everyone on their toes until she left the facility to spend her last days with her youngest daughter in Baytown.

Chic is survived by her daughters, Saundra Owens of Huntington, Roxie Johnson of Bald Hill and Jody Usry of Baytown, and niece and honorary daughter and son-in-law Brenda (Dykes) and Lloyd Cox of Lufkin; grandson and wife, Dom and Janis Owens of Lufkin; granddaughter and husband, Andrea and Mark Hathcote of Little Rock, Arkansas; granddaughter, Sophye Lilly of Little Rock, Arkansas; great-grandchildren, Kade and Shelby Owens of Lufkin, and Justin Silas Hathcote of Little Rock, Arkansas; sister, Juandell Nelson; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

In addition to her parents Chic was preceded in death by her first grandchild, Darrin Dalone Pate; sisters, Vera Kitchens, Jimmy Collins and Faye Petray; and brothers Vernon (Brody), Jackie Bob, Josh and Henry Kenneth Dykes.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.