Wanda “LaNita” (Heard) Dixon March 14, 1926 ~ September 11, 2026 (age 100)

Funeral services for Wanda “LaNita” Dixon, 100 of Elida will be held at 10:00 AM, Monday, Sept. 14, 2026 at the Elida Baptist Church with Rev. Todd Sullens officiating, assisted by Rev. Cheston Fair.  Burial will follow in the Elida Cemetery with Kenton Perkins, Alex DeLaVega, Taylen DeLaVega, Myles DeLaVega, Zach Bingham, Ty Thompson, Slade Thompson, Dustin Dixon, Pecos Dixon, Pryce Dixon, Ashtin Dixon, Morgan Fraze, Quayde Addison, Christopher Griffith and Kelton Addison serving as pallbearers.  The family will receive guests at the funeral home on Sunday afternoon from 3 to 5 PM.

Wanda LaNita (Heard) Dixon was born on March 4, 1926, in Olney, Texas, to Dan and Norene Heard. She passed away peacefully on September 11, 2026, in Elida, surrounded by her family.

At the age of 10 her mother passed away leaving her to be the primary care giver for her four younger siblings. After graduating from Spade High School, she attended the Draughon’s Business School where she attained a business certificate. Then at the age of 19 she traveled to Washington DC to help with the efforts of World War II, by working with the Coast Guard.  LaNita received several awards for her work. At the end of the War, she returned to the Littlefield area, and later moved to Elida where she purchased LaNita’s Court and gas station.

A few years later she leased the hotel and returned to Anton, Texas to work as a bookkeeper.  It was there that she met the love of her life, Kenneth Dixon. They were married on March 21, 1950, in Clovis. They made their home in Elida, and their home was blessed with 5 children.

LaNita became a believer as a 13-year-old child but rededicated her life to Jesus and was re-baptized at the age of 90. She was a member of FBC Elida as well as FBC Ruidoso. She lived her faith daily and radiated Jesus.  Her faith was evident in her everyday life, and she showed grace and kindness to everyone.

One of her quotes from a journal was, “The happiest time of my life was raising my children and loving and caring for them. Always doing what I felt was the best for them.” She was a devoted wife and loving mother. She was the best mother-in-law and Granny in the world.

While raising her children, she continued to operate Lanita’s Court. In 1968 she started working at the Elida Post Office, and was appointed as Postmaster in 1980.  She continued in that capacity until her retirement in 1990. After retirement she and Kenneth moved to Bonito where they lived until 2019. Later in life they split time between Durward’s home in Elida and Jeannette’s home in Tucumcari.

LaNita enjoyed painting, quilting, scrapbooking, and being a member of the Elida Homemakers.  She also restored dolls as a ministry in conjunction with Lady’s Auxiliary of the Lincoln County Medical Center. She was a proud lifelong member of the Woman’s Missionary Union.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two infant sisters, one sister, three brothers and her husband Kenneth, who died July 7, 2020 after more than 70 years.

She is survived by her sons Charles (Jolene) Dixon of Alto, Herschel (Connie) Dixon of Elida, Stanley (Vickie) Dixon of Portales and Durward (Tina) Dixon of Elida, and her daughter, Jeannette (Larry) Perkins of Tucumcari; 18 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren; three sisters Nelda (Delmer) Wooten, Doris Cullum, and Janice McElroy, along with numerous nieces, nephews and other family members.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Wanda “LaNita” (Heard) Dixon, please visit our floral store.