Oct. 11, 1950 – April 17, 2012

NATCHEZ — A Mass of Christian Burial for Dix Ballard Nord, 61, of Gulfport, formerly of Natchez, who died Tuesday, April 17, 2012, in Gulfport surrounded by her loving family, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary Basilica.

Immediately following, the family will gather for a private burial at the Natchez City Cemetery. Friends and family are invited to attend a social at Mrs. Sallie Ballard home following the burial ceremony.

Also, friends are cordially invited to gather at Memorial Park and share remembrances of Dix from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday.

For her Gulfport Coast friends, a Memorial Mass will be at 6 p.m. Monday at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Long Beach.

Immediately following Mass, all are invited to The Chimneys Restaurant for a celebration to share remembrances of and love for Dix.

Arrangements are under the direction of Riemann Family Funeral Home in Gulfport and Laird Funeral Home in Natchez.

Mrs. Nord was born Oct. 11, 1950, in Natchez. She was a 1968 graduate of Natchez High School and received a bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Mississippi in 1972.

On Oct. 2, 1976, she married Peter Allen Nord, her husband of 35 years, at St. Mary Basilica. Dix’s two children, Sophie and Watson, were the greatest joy of her life.

Dix was active in the Chi Omega Chapter at Ole Miss, serving as president. She remained involved with the sorority by serving on the Chi Omega Tau House Corporation for the past 15 years and being active in the local alumni chapter. She served as queen of Natchez Pilgrimage in 1969, an honored tradition among the ladies in her family. Dix was also proud to serve on the Mississippi Humanities Council and was an active parishioner of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.

As proprietors of The Chimneys Restaurant, Dix and her family contributed to the rebirth of the Mississippi Gulf Coast after

Hurricane Katrina with the rebuilding of The Chimneys. Dix touched countless lives with a subtle and gentle grace. She lived her life for her children, family, endless friends, treasured employees and a number of patrons of The Chimneys.

Dix enjoyed serving others by helping with community festivals and fundraisers and assisting with a number of volunteer projects. She was known by all as the most unselfish woman in the world and was blessed with a radiance that allowed her to volunteer with joy in her heart.

Dix was a nurturing, loving soul who never forgot a name, face or a tender detail of someone’s life. She truly lived her life for others, never putting herself first, and graciously caring for everyone she knew.

She was creative, artistic and made any environment more lovely and special with her natural talent for bringing warmth an

d beauty to any place or any occasion. She was a prolific giver of compliments and was perpetually humble and unassuming. Dix loved unconditionally, gave of herself tirelessly and anonymously, and lived her life with the heart of a servant and the demeanor

of a lady.

She was preceded in death by her father, Basil Glen Ballard Sr.; one niece, Bannon Dix Ballard; maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John R. Junkin; and paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. William Dudley Ballard.

Survivors include her husband; their two children, Sophie Rowan Nord and Peter Watson Nord, both of Gulfport; her mo

ther, Sally Junkin Ballard of Natchez; four siblings, Glen Ballard of Los Angeles, Wensel Ballard Conroy and husband, Michael, of Covington, La., Donna Ballard Maselli and husband, Joe, of New Orleans and John Ballard and wife, Melinda, of Moberly, Mo.; 10 nephews; and five nieces.

Dix’s family extends special thanks to all the doctors, nurses and clergy who cared for and have been with Dix and her family throughout her journey.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to the Dix Ballard Nord Foundation,

P.O. Box 486, Gulfport, MS 39502.

Online condolences may be sent to www.riemannfamily.com or www.lairdfh.com.