Barbara Lou Hixon

Barbara Lou Hixon, age 90, passed away peacefully on November 16, 2024 at Worland Healthcare in Worland, Wyoming with her daughter by her side. She was born on October 19, 1934 in Los Angeles, California to Robert Edward and Kathryn Mary (Brunner) Derby.

Barbara (Bobbie) grew up in Beverly Hills, California. After graduating from an elite high school at the top of her class in 1952, Bobbie decided to immediately enter the convent where she stayed for eleven years. It was here that she took on a new name of Sister Christina Dolora. She also found her life-long faith and spiritual dedication to God and the Catholic Church. She revealed a lifetime reputation for always smiling, which gave her the nickname of "Sister Smiley". Her devotion to her faith would remain a cornerstone of her life, shaping her way of caring for others, connecting with her community and teaching her family and the parishioners, about the Lord, her faith and His wisdom. She also became a valid spokesperson of the good Lord's word.

After Pope John XXII released Bobbie from the convent in 1963, she went to work for a food company, working in quality control. It was here that she met Donald D. Hixon. Don was a supervisor, who was instructed by his boss, to ensure Bobbie's safe walks home. Their friendship quickly blossomed into love, and they were married six months later, on November 28, 1963. They welcomed their daughter, Christine "Chris" in September of 1964. She was the first of two children.

Don and Bobbie followed their work North to Oregon, then again into Washington State. It was in Tacoma, Washington where their son, Anthony "Tony" was born in March of 1967. The family enjoyed a lot of camping and fishing on Mount Saint Helen's as well as Spirit Lake. They also enjoyed going saltwater salmon fishing. Bobbie embraced every new adventure, challenge, difficulty, and life's lesson with grace, dignity and her "famous smile".

In 1972, work took the Hixon family to Phoenix, Arizona. It was in Arizona that Don and Bobbie would remain for the next 47 years, until Don passed away.

Bobbie would never stop her devotion to God or the Catholic Church. Although she had various other jobs like accounting, Bobbie would always continue to work for the church in some way. She usually would be involved in RCIA but had many more responsibilities too. She frequently wrote sermons for mass, helped troubled people and traveled all over America to give lectures. She also wrote a book on RCIA and took a two-year course on the original Hebrew language. One day, a Bishop asker her, "Bobbie, you have more theological credits than I do. Why are you taking this class?" She responded, "So I can learn the original Hebrew language and study the original Hebrew Bible." Wow! That's a lot of theological credits.

Besides Bobbie's incredible education and I.Q., the most impressive achievement of her life, (other than her love for her family and God), was what she single handedly accomplished by the request of the Phoenix Catholic Diocese. They asked her to put together the entire mass for Pope John Paul II for his trip to Phoenix in 1987. She incorporated the Navajo Nation's dance and she had them weave baskets for communion and making challis for the wine. She wrote the sermon, helped put together the singers and the music, helped the secret service with security, decided on decorations, figured out how to get thousands of people served communion in 15 minutes, and much more! Now that was an incredible accomplishment. Bobbie was no ordinary lady, she was miraculous.

After Don died in 2016, Bobbie moved to Worland, Wyoming to be around her kids and to be where she could be taken care of. Even though she lost her husband of 53 years, she never lost her wonderful kindness, the way she cared for others, and that famous smile.

Bobbie was preceded in death by her parents, Bob and Kathryn (Brunner) Derby; husband, Don; brothers, Tom and Bill Derby; sisters, Jane (Derby) Dion and Eileen (Derby) O'Brien.

She is survived by her daughter, Christine (Hixon) Hedges of Worland; son, Anthony (Molly Campbell) of Worland; Grandson, Daniel Lee (Stephanie DeLeon) Hixon of Phoenix, Arizona and their daughter/ Bobbie's great-granddaughter, Devi Von Hixon; step grandchildren, Mike and Jessica Campbell; step-great-grandchildren, Ryah Herrara and Oakley Brown as well as one step-great-great-grandchild, Kingsley.

A memorial service will be held 11:00 AM, Wednesday December 11, 2024 with Father Robert Rodgers officiating. Memorial donations may be made to assist with funeral costs or to St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church. Please send checks to PO Box 524 Worland, Wyoming 82401. Online condolences may be made at http://www.bryantfuneralhomeonline.com.