Myrna Dixon Rochelle, 84, of Hopkinsville, KY died at 11:36 a.m. Saturday, April 5, 2025 at her residence.
Memorial services will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at Hughart, Beard & Giles Funeral Home with Rev. Dan Huck officiating. Following the memorial service the family is asking everyone to join them as they continue to celebrate Myrna’s Life at the Hopkinsville Golf & Country Club. Hughart, Beard & Giles Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Myrna often said she was in her fifth life.
Her first life was as Myrna Faye Ragland, daughter of the late William Ragland and Helen Major Miller (Kenneth), born on May 20, 1940. She was raised by her loving grandparents the late U.L. and Hallie Mae Dillman Major. On their Pembroke farm, Myrna grew into an incredible cook and seamstress winning countless 4H awards and was also quite the beauty being crowned Tobacco Queen before graduating from Sinking Fork Highschool in 1958. She went on to get her associates degree at a junior college in Bowling Green.
Her second life was when she married her high school sweetheart, John Morris Dixon Jr, and the newlyweds moved to Lexington for John to finish college and pursue his law degree. In Lexington, Myrna worked as an administrator for Proctor & Gamble, and their son Jack was born. After law school, John served two years in the JAG Corps, and Myrna loved being an army wife, being stationed at Ft. Monmouth, NJ, just an hour from New York City, where they enjoyed many day trips. Their second child Kathryn, was born before they moved to Arkansas, where John had his first job as an attorney. Around 1970, the young family moved back to Hopkinsville, where Myrna helped John set up his partnership, Turner, Dixon & Kemp, and she worked as an administrator there until the firm grew enough to hire a staff. They were members of the First Methodist Church, and Myrna quickly jumped back into Hopkinsville society as a member and officer of the Junior Auxiliary, HGCC, and various other activities. She loved being around her family and friends, hosting parties, traveling, and homemaking.
Her third life was as a single Mom, joining the workforce again in her 40s as an administrator for Datanet Corporation and then Metropolitan Life. Myrna had incredible grit. She would often say that something her kids would learn from her example is how to get up, dust off, and make wonderful lemonade out of lemons. She did just that and had a very successful career.
Her fourth life, she married Alvis “Al” Rochelle, Vanderbilt basketball hall of famer, and the couple lived happily on Al’s family farm in Guthrie, KY. The couple enjoyed gardening, flying ultralights, and listening to good music. Myrna was an avid KY fan and Al was a fan of about any other team than KY which made their basketball spectating lively! Myrna & Al filled their property with fruit trees, a large garden of other fruits and vegetables, and beautiful gardens. Friends and neighbors were invited to come pick blackberries, and asparagus and it was a real treat if you got a piece of her homemade apple pie made from the apples on the farm. If you wanted corn, you just had to come to their annual shucking party and help prepare the corn. Myrna frequently visited Hopkinsville during that time to see friends and went on many fantastic trips with her family and friends.
Her fifth life was as a widower; however, she wasn’t about to stop living everyday to the fullest of her ability. Myrna moved back to Hopkinsville to be closer to family and friends and attend the church she had enjoyed previously. You would find her most every Monday playing bridge and Wednesdays playing hand & foot with her friends at the club. She was at the Y on Tuesdays & Thursdays doing what she could to meet her goal – “to be healthy in my 80’s so I can enjoy my family and friends.” She did just that! You could find her out and about town often with her beloved dog, Allie, in tow flashing that beautiful smile that would light up a room and saying something witty. She will certainly be missed.
In addition to her parents and grandparents, Myrna was preceded in death by her husband: Al Rochelle; her sister: Nancy Miller Ellis Gates; her grandson: Jake Dixon; her aunt: Mae Major Garner; and her uncle: Bennett H. Major.
Survivors include her children: Kathryn (Stacey) David of Goodlettsville, TN and Jack (Janet) Dixon of Murray, KY; her step children: Russ (Debbie) Willis of Nashville, TN and Al “Buster” Rochelle, Jr. of Plano, TX; her grandchildren: Nikki Dixon (Michael) Franks, Adrienna Dixon, Talon David, Ayla Faye David, Claiborne Willis (Dougie) Hilliard, Merritt Willis (Brian) Matthews, Lori Nimon, Rushton Wilkerson, Jarod Wilkerson, Andi Wilkerson, and Zachary (Elizabeth) Calhoun; her great grandchildren: Peyton Franks, Reagan Franks, Bradley Stewart Matthews, and Skylar Nimon; and her cousins: Marian Wheeler, Judy (David) Futrell, and Ed (Melanie) Van Metre.
In memory of Myrna, the family is asking that you do something kind to help your fellow neighbor in whatever manner you feel most appropriate: flood relief, a random act of kindness, or just a warm smile.
