Maejean Dunaway Nixson

Maejean Dunaway Nixson

July 14, 1935-March 10, 2024

Maejean Dunaway Nixson 87, died Sunday March 10, 2024 at her home in McKinney, Texas. Maejean was born at home to Wayne and Iva Dunaway July14, 1935 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She was the fifth of eight children: Marie, Meb, Mackie, Don, Sue, Sara (Francie) and Bill.

Maejean married Amon Nixson, Sr. on September 1, 1973. He was the love of her life. Together they blended two families into one magnificently---Amon's three boys and Maejean's two boys and one girl.

Maejean graduated from Blackwell High School in 1954 then received an Associates Degree in Business from Richland College in Texas. She was an electronic designer for the first pacemaker and designed a computer chip that was used in the space shuttle. She designed a circuit for the first artificial heart. During animal trials, the artificial heart surgery and device were successful, but the first artificial heart had a limit of a few hours. The team joked "the cow never got off the table".

A gifted quilter and long time member of Cotton Patch Quilt Guild, Maejean was known for her beautiful quilts. She also enjoyed time in the cabin on the mountain top in Arkansas that she and sister Francie co-owned. The mountain became a gathering place for family and quilting retreats.

Maejean is survived by brother Don Dunaway of Nardin, Oklahoma and sister Sara (Francie) Bobbitt, six children, daughter Vonnie Valdez and sons John Taylor, Wilson Taylor, Amon Nixson, Jr.., Tony Nixson and Ben Nixson, +9 eight grand children and thirteen great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Amon Nixson, Sr., her parents Wayne and Iva Dunaway and siblings, Marie Colcleasure, Freda (Meb) Lindahl, Maxine Watson Leverett, Sue Smith, and Bill Dunaway.