Mrs. Dixie Hilda Stone Phifer, age 91 of Sparta, passed away Sunday, May 24, 2026 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center.

Dixie was born November 3, 1934 in Sparta to the late Dennis T. and Daisy Lee Steele Stone. She had a work career spanning from switchboard operator to retail sales, most notably with JC Penney and Wal-Mart. She enjoyed traveling domestically and abroad, living in both Spain and Saudi Arabia during her life. She will be fondly remembered for her love of baking and feeding people, often sharing her baked goods at Wal-Mart.

In addition to her parents, she is also preceded in death by her husband Donald Arzie Phifer who died June 19, 2005; grandson Leroy Joseph "Lee" Willmann, III who died December 15, 2022; sisters Evelyn Dean Fleaher, Sandra Lewis and Paula Tompkins; brothers Charles D. Stone, Jimmy V. Stone and Bobby H. Stone.

Surviving family members include her three children, Rita Willmann of Aurora, Colorado, Sharon (Douglas) Berry of Roswell, NM and D.K. Phifer of Sparta

Grandson: Isaiah Phifer

Great-grandchildren: Dakota (Alexis) Willmann and James Willmann

Sisters in law: Elizabeth Sparks Stone of Cookeville and Bonita Stone of Maryville, TN

A host of nieces and nephews also survive.

Funeral services will be conducted 1:00pm Wednesday, May 27, 2026 from the Chapel of Hunter Funeral Home with burial in Bransford Davis Cemetery. The family will receive friends after 11:00am on Wednesday at Hunter Funeral Home. David Copeland will officiate.