Berniece Joyce (Garnett) Dickson

Berniece Joyce Dickson, age 95, resident of Hermann and past resident of Sue City, Missouri, passed away October 29 at Frene Valley of Hermann Stonebridge.

Berniece was born September 19, 1924 at home on a farm of Macon, MO.  She was the daughter of the late Cecil & Elise Fern (Streight) Garnett.  She was the oldest of eight children.  On March 22, 1946 she was married to Joe H. Dickson at Shelbyville, MO.  Joe preceded her in death on August 31, 1997.

She was also preceded in death by grandparents, parents, one sister, Juanita Phillips, and two brothers, Cecil “Junior”, and Ronnie Garnett. Also preceding her in death were several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

She is survived by one daughter, Catherine A. and her husband, Dr. Michael W. Mahoney, of Hermann, Missouri; by three sisters, Ruth Thompson, of Macon, Missouri; Ethel Bowen, of Clark, Missouri, Marie Thompson, of Lampasas, Texas and one brother, Odell Garnett, of  Huntsville, Missouri; two grandchildren, Karin and her husband, David Broeker and Ryan and his wife, Faith Mahoney; ten great-grandchildren, Carileen and her husband Jacob Woodbury, Joe, Grant, Ella, and Sentha Broeker and Trent, Maggie, Evangeline, Reid, and Cora Mahoney; several nieces, nephews, and cousins.  

Berniece was raised in the Atlanta, Missouri area attending rural school in Nickelton, Missouri, and graduated from Leonard High School in 1942.  She taught rural school in Shelby County until her marriage to Joe after he returned from WWII.  They moved to a farm near Shelbina, Missouri for four years where Catherine was born in Macon, Missouri; then, to a family farm two and one/half miles south of Sue City, Missouri, until 1980 when ill-health necessitated a move to Hermann, Missouri.  

Berniece and Joe worked hard farming and raising their daughter.  Berniece and Joe were, together, culinary artists and they enjoyed having family in their home to celebrate family, birthdays and holidays.  Berniece spent many hours in her kitchen, canning and preserving much of what they produced on the farm.  She was a meticulous homemaker, gardener, avid reader and creative watercolorist.  She enjoyed life as an accomplished seamstress and tailor who fashioned most of her families’ clothing needs.  She was the Golden Nugget 4-H Clothing leader, and judged many mid-Missouri fair 4-H Clothing classes.  Her relaxation was gained over many years hand-stitching quilts with neighbors and friends; then, volunteering at the German School, Hermann, Missouri.

Returning to Northeast Missouri State College, now known as Truman University, Kirksville, Missouri, Berniece graduated Cum Laude, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Science and Education in 1973. She was named Who’s Who in Missouri Education.    

Berniece lived a full life of faith and was a member of the Sue City Baptist Church then the Hermann United Methodist Church where she taught Women’s Sunday School Classes, throughout.  Berniece belonged to the La Plata/Atlanta area Progressive Farmettes and later, the Hermann V.F.W. Auxiliary.  She loved her family and friends and enjoyed being around them.  She will be greatly missed by her family.

Visitation will be held Friday, November 1st from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Toedtmann & Grosse Funeral Home, 1221 Washington St, Hermann, Missouri.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 2nd at 11:00 a.m. at Hermann United Methodist Church, 382 West 16th Street, Hermann, Missouri.  Interment will be in the Oak Haven Memorial Gardens, Hermann, Missouri.  Pallbearers will be her great-grandsons, nephews and grand-nephews.

Memorials may be given to Hermann Area District Hospital, Emmanuel Evangelical Free Church or Hermann Area Crusade Against Cancer.  C/O Toedtmann & Grosse Funeral Home.