Vigen Memorial Home obituary - Ray T. Dickson, 83, Keokuk

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Ray Thomas “Tom” Dickson, II, 83 of Keokuk, IA Monday, died July 20, 2020 at River Hills Village in Keokuk, IA.

     He was born September 27, 1936 in Keokuk, IA the son of Ray Thomas and Virginia Lawrence Dickson.  

     Tom graduated from Keokuk High School with the Class of 1955.

     He was first united in marriage to Mary Schweer on April 16, 1961.  They later divorced.  She preceded him in death on August 20, 2017.  On June 28, 1975 Tom was united in marriage to Susan Cheek in Clarence, MO. She survives. 

      Other survivors include one son, Ray T. Dickson, III of Keokuk, three grandchildren, Amanda (Michael) Pulliam of Springfield, MO, Ray Thomas (Tommy) Dickson, IV Forquer and Sheena Hancock both of Keokuk, and six great-grandchildren, Michael, Grace, Larry, Addison, Isabella and Rae Lynn.

     He was preceded in death by his father, Ray T. Dickson, mother, Virginia Dickson Hawkins and step-father, W.G. Hawkins.

     Tom had been employed in his younger years as a projectionist at Plaza Cinema and Frisina Theaters.  He later had been employed by Vrandenberg Enterprises, Irv Lindner at the Keokuk Airport, as a tool master at Seither and Cherry and as an electrician at F.A. Dunn and Max Gorham. Tom was a sound and lights operator for Hendrick Sound in Fairfield, IA for many fairs and country music shows in the southern Iowa area.  He was the stage manager at the Grand Theater for many years.  Tom helped on the minstrial shows and met Snookie Pryor. He was also a founding electrician for the City of Christmas in Keokuk and had worked on the Lock and Dam #19 in 1955. Tom provided the electrical power for the 1st Dam Festival.   He had also worked for D & K Inc. doing sound and lights at the Nauvoo Grape Festival, several dance recitals and for the Civic Music Association. He was the owner and operator of Dickson Electric for over fifty years.   

     Tom was a member of Rollin on the River, City of Christmas and the Keokuk Kiwanis.  He had also been past president of the Eagles Club and the Hickory Grove Cemetery and School Association.  

     He loved going down to the river and also drinking coffee with his coffee group.  He never met a stranger and was always there for his family.   

     A Gathering of Remembrance will be held for family and friends from 2-4 p.m., Saturday, August 1, 2020 at the Vigen Memorial Home in Keokuk, IA.  Burial will be in the Hickory Grove Cemetery in rural Keokuk. Social distancing requirements will be in place and attendees may be limited according to those requirements.  Masks are strongly encouraged.   

     Memorials may be made to Rollin on the River scholarship fund at P.O. Box 1391, Keokuk, IA or Hickory Grove Cemetery.   

     Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.vigenmemorialhome.com     

Keokuk, obituary, Pen City Current, Tom Dicksen, Vigen Memorial Home