Roma Fay Hixon, 82, passed way August 20, 2009. She was born Nov. 20, 1926, in Verdon, Neb., to Warren and Ruby (Wells) Stewart.

In 1949 Roma met and married Harold Hixon in Alma, Kan., and raised two daughters in Stroud, Okla.

Roma worked for many years at the Cleveland American newspaper as the head of the advertising department. She had attended a vocational and technical school to learn offset printing. Not completing high school as a young person, she attained her GED at age 55 at the top of her class. When she was about 58-years-old, she moved to Hays, Kan., to take care of her ailing mother for 20 years. In 2005 she moved to Whidbey Island and settled in Coupeville to be close to her granddaughter and family.

Roma made many friends and will be very dearly missed by all who knew her.

Roma is survived by her two daughters, Lindy Combs of Minneapolis, and Judy Bartel of Watonga, Okla.; sister, Bessie Leiker of Hays, Kan.; half-sisters, Phyllis Cyerax of Manhattan, Kan., Ruby Dill of Nebraska and Mary Ude of Lincoln, Neb.; half-brothers, William Stewart of Nebraska and Tom Stewart of Lincoln, Neb.; nine grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son Darrell and husband Harold.

A memorial service for Roma was held Aug. 25 at Burley Funeral Chapel in Oak Harbor with Pastor Rob Van Kooten presiding.