Neva Dickmon

Neva (Leatherwood) Dickmon was born the middle of nine children at the family home in Clarksville, TX on February 8, 1927 to W.J. and Georgia Ediss (Latimer) Leatherwood. She attended a one-room schoolhouse (Dimple, TX) for most of her school years, graduating at 16 years old. After graduation, she moved to Fort Worth, TX and began working as an elevator operator. While in Fort Worth she met her future husband, Larry Dickmon. He was a soldier, leaving for Europe. They fell in love, kept in touch, and when he was discharged from the U.S. Army, Neva bought a bus ticket to Kalamazoo and married him on July 31, 1945. Larry passed away in 2011. Neva was the school secretary for may years at Comstock East Elementary. She enjoyed being around the children and teachers. She remembered them for years after she retired. Neva's grandchildren were her greatest joys. After retiring, Neva wanted to spend as much time with them as she could, so she became the daycare provider for her grandchildren and eventually her great-grandchildren. Neva passed away peacefully in the early morning of October 24, 2021. Neva is survived by three children: Mary Ann (Fred) Root; Karen (Richard) Amsbury, and John (Melinda) Dickmon; four grandchildren: Jodie (Amsbury) Veenhuis, Julie Amsbury, Brianna (Brandon) Fry, Maeve Dickmon; and three great-grandchildren: Emily Veenhuis, Evan Veenhuis, and Cora Grace Fry; a sister, Dorothy (Leatherwood) Sutton of Garland, TX; and a brother, Donald Leatherwood of Idabel, OK; as well as many nieces and nephews. There will be no formal services. Burial will be at Ft. Custer National Cemetery at a later date. Neva was a life-long animal lover. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Kalamazoo Humane Society or an animal rescue of your choice, as well as Comstock Foundation (comstockps.org). "What we once enjoyed and deeply loved, we can never lose. For all that we love deeply becomes a part of us." Helen Keller Care entrusted to Langeland Family Funeral Homes Burial & Cremation Services, 3926 S. 9th St., Kalamazoo, MI 49009. To view Neva's personalized web page, please visit https://www.langelands.com