In Memoriam: Leona B. Dees

“Leona is a person, I suspect, who died with no regrets. She lived her life fully.” He added, “Happy New year to you, Leona, where ever you are!”

– Justin Stone, December 31, 1996

Leona Dees was an unusually gifted person. T’ai Chi Chih held a special place in her heart. During the last few years of her life she began to teach T’ai Chi Chih at the T’ai Chi Chih Center in New Mexico and at the Los Volcanes Senior Center and the Highland Senior Center. She planned to extend her teaching to other senior centers in the Albuquerque area. An enthusiastic volunteer, she spent many hours staffing the TCC Center in Albuquerque.

She and her husband, Marion, had established a T’ai Chi Chih Web Site accessed regularly by those interested in T’ai Chi Chih. Civic-minded, dedicated and caring, Leona exemplified those qualities which made her loved and respected. She will be missed by all who knew her. During her earlier years she served as a WAVE in the Navy assigned to Military Intelligence. After the service, she entered the U. S. Civil Service as a specialist in cryptography. For a time, after the death of her first husband, John Dickey, she owned and operated a flower shop in the Albuquerque airport. Her interests included anthropology and archeology. She also supported local museums through fund raising and volunteer work.

The T’ai Chi Chih community pays respect to her memory, mourns her loss, and honors her selfless service as we acknowledge her passing from this life in the arms of her husband, Marian Dees, on December 25, 1996. Thank you for your life, Leona!

To Marion we extend our heartfelt sympathy in the loss of Leona, your companion, wife, and friend.