Derva Ellen Dixon, born in White Elk, MN to James and Laura (Morton) Dixon on May 16, 1926, died in her home in Springfield, MO on Thursday, February 6, 2014 at age 87. Derva graduated from the North Central Bible Institute in Minneapolis and married Guy W. Trower 4 days later on May 1, 1948. They were married for 65 years. A homemaker, pastor''s wife, and mother, she also worked for the Assemblies of God Home Missions Department.
She is survived by her children Paul (wife Sharon), Daniel, Faith (husband Doug Decker), Jonathan (wife Debbie), Timothy (wife Donna), and Ethan (wife Lillian). She is also survived by 14 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, and sisters Avis Bereal, Betty Nielson, Donna Anderson, and Ruth Jenkins, as well as numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Guy, her parents, brothers James, Glenn, and Duane, sister Marjory Hanson, an infant daughter Faith Ann, a son Joel, a granddaughter and a great-granddaughter.
Her love of Jesus was evident in everything she did. As a pastor''s wife she played the organ, organized and taught Sunday School, started one of the first Missionettes programs in the United States, hosted Women''s Ministries gatherings in the home, and visited church members who were sick or homebound.
She had a call for missions and served God faithfully working with missionaries to the Gypsies, American Indians, and Jews in the Intercultural Ministries in Home Missions. In addition she served as a long-term volunteer at the Whitney Library for the Blind. After retirement, her ministry to the sight-impaired lead to her receiving a Gift of Time Award in 2008 for her volunteerism.
Derva was an avid gardener and loved working in her garden and her flower beds. Her green thumb was evident indoors and outdoors, and she often fed her family on the produce grown in the back yard. She loved bird watching and nature and taught her children much about the flora and the fauna. She also instilled in her children her avid love of reading.
In recognition of the work that she and Guy loved doing for the Whitney Library for the Blind, the family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Library to further the spread of the Gospel to the sight-impaired. (Center for the Blind, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, MO 65802)
A visitation will be held on Sunday, February 9, 2014 from 3-5 pm at Klingner-Cope Family Funeral Home at Rivermonte, 4500 S. Lone Pine, Springfield, MO. A service will be held on Monday, February 10, 2014 at 10 am at Evangel Temple, 2020 E. Battlefield St, Springfield, MO 65804.