Girlene Bixler

Girlene Bixler passed away on May 17, 2013 at the age of 96 years, 9 months and 15 days at her home in the Primrose Retirement Community in Pueblo, CO. She was born on August 02, 1916 in West Plains, MO. to William and Annabelle Mackey Davison. When Girlene was 9 months of age, William and Annabelle moved their family from West Plains, MO. to Morton County Kansas. It was there along the Cimarron, River where they homesteaded and Girlene grew to adulthood. She received her formal education in a one-room school-house in nearby Elkhart, Kansas where she attended school until her sophomore year of high school. In 1933, Girlene Davison met and married Cecil “Red” Wellen at Richfield, KS. Four children were born to this union; Gordon Eugene, Phyllis Mae, Wyona Rae and Dixie Lee. Red and Girlene were married 23 years until they divorced in 1955. On March 12th 1956, Girlene Wellen married Delbert Bixler in Tucumcari, NM. To this union, one child was born; Charles Delbert. In 1955, Delbert and Girlene together with Wyona and Dixie relocated to Denver, CO.; where they made their home. She was an accomplished homemaker, gifted with the knowledge, talent and the drive to construct, renovate and restore any project she set her mind on. Via her ingenuity and skillful hands, she could achieve any task she undertook and bring it to fruition with the utmost degree of quality. In addition to being a homemaker, Girlene was employed at a variety of jobs throughout her lifetime, both domestically and vocationally. She was no stranger to hard work and if truth be told, her work ethic was one of her greatest attributes. When the older children were still at home, there were times Girlene milked as many as 19 cows twice a day; kept 50 hens and raised 8 to 10 hogs. Accordingly, she sold milk, cream and eggs to supplement the family income. Vocationally, Girlene made Bingo cards in Denver, CO. and was employed at the All State Motel in Springfield, CO. Moreover, she worked in restaurants as a cook and waitress in Springfield and Englewood, CO. Girlene possessed a unique financial acumen notwithstanding the fact she had no formal training in the disciplines of economics. She was most comfortable at home and enjoyed baking, sewing, making soap and various other domestic activities. Girlene was preceded in death by her husband Delbert Bixler, son Gordon Wellen, son-in-law Terry Cogburn, grandson Dalton Cogburn, great-granddaughter Cassie Wellen, parents, William and Annabelle Mackey Davison, siblings, Eva Eversoll, Madge Jones, Louise Ellis, Eleanor Ellis, Joe, Jim, Jess, Roy, Mack, Buck and Leonard Davison. Girlene is survived by daughters: Phyllis and husband Ernie Johnson of Pueblo, CO, Wyona Geier of Austin, TX, Dixie Cogburn of Happy, TX. and Charles and wife Mary Bixler of Englewood, CO. In addition, she is survived by 16 grandchildren; 27 great grandchildren; 19 great, great, grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. A memorial service will be held at 12:30 pm, May 26, 2013 at the Primrose Retirement Community 5055 Outlook Blvd. Pueblo, CO. 81001 and interment will be with her husband Delbert at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Sheridan, CO.