Shirley Kay Dalme Dickie

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Memorial and Rosary held at Martin & Castille's Southside location on Friday from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a Rosary prayed at 7:00 PM. A Visitation will also be held at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home, 848 Keyser Ave., Natchitoches, LA on Saturday from 10:00 AM until time of the services. Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, February 27, 2010 at a 1:00 PM Mass of Christian Burial at Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, 145 Church St., Natchitoches, LA. Interment will be in Memory Lawn Cemetery in Natchitoches, LA. Reverend James Foster, will conduct the funeral services. Giftbearers will be Angela and Daniel Talbott. Lectors will be Lynda Cart and Robert Andrus. Eulogist will be Pat Andrus. Pallbearers will be Greg Dalme, Doug Dalme, Mike Hyams, Daniel Talbott, Roy Matthews and Randy Stiver. Honorary Pallbearers will be Michael Hyams, Scott Hyams, Jon Dalme and Mike Walker. Shirley was born in Natchitoches, LA in 1946 and spent all of her formative years there where she attended St. Mary's Catholic School and graduated in 1964. She earned three bachelor degrees within the Education field from Northwestern State University in 1968, and a Masters of Education (Rehabilitation) + Special Ed. from the University of Texas in 1976; Masters plus from the University of Alabama in 1979 in Development & Disabilities Administration; and was selected Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. Shirley has spent the past 40 years working with disabled and disadvantaged individuals. She was licensed as Louisiana Professional Counselor No. 605, Louisiana Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor No. 42 and Certified Vocational Specialist No. 53. She also maintained contract status with the Social Security Administration as a Vocational expert since 1983, and has worked with the Veterans Administration, U.S. Department of Labor Vocational Rehabilitation throughout her professional career. She is a member of the WIA Board for Lafayette Parish No. 41, and has maintained both national and state board memberships for the National Rehabilitation Association and Louisiana Rehabilitation Association. She is an officer and board member of Louisiana Vocational Evaluation Work Adjustment Association and numerous other professional and private organizations. She is a Charter member of Developmental & Disabilities Administration professional organization. Most recently, she operated the Lafayette branch of UpLIFTD providing supervision and vocational evaluation. She was certified to administer numerous psychological and psychometric tests, including the comprehensive vocational evaluation for the blind and the McCarron Dial System. She served as Executive Director of the Southwest Louisiana Rehabilitation Center, Lafayette, LA; Director of the Rehabilitation Services, Easter Seal Society of Dade County, Miami, Florida, where she supervised (150) professional staff; Coordinator of Special Education, MHMR Regional Center of East Texas, Tyler, Texas, where she designed and implemented the first home training infant stimulation program in the State of Texas; Instructor at the University of Texas at Tyler, Texas in the Special Education Department and Supervisor of Graduate Student Practicum's. Shirley had many facets to her abilities. As a young woman, she competed in the Junior Olympics in Synchronized Swimming and later competed on the collegiate Swim and Diving Team. As a Red Cross Certified instructor, she developed and implemented Summer Swim classes for the developmental disabled and handicapped children in her hometown. She was selected Miss Merry Christmas in Natchitoches, LA (1963) and as a result, was invited to participate in the Miss Louisiana Pageant. Along with being selected Miss Merry Christmas, she represented Natchitoches Parish at the 1964 Mardi Gras Ball in Washington, D.C. For many years, she judged beauty pageants in Louisiana and worked with the Miss Louisiana Pageant in Monroe, LA, until moving out of State. She was co-founder along with Dione Vice Bacon, of Profit Seekers Investment Club of Lafayette, LA. This club was selected as the National winner in 2002, based on criteria of the National Association of Investors Corporation. Mrs. Dickie received many recognitions and awards during the course of her lifetime, but more importantly, she truly loved helping the people that she worked with in her chosen career path and the rewards were self evident. Shirley was an amazing mother, wife and friend. She was an avid reader, wonderful cook/homemaker, enjoyed shopping for her many collectibles and she loved working in her gardens. She had a special place in her heart for her grandchildren and loved spending time with each of them, which was a joy to watch. Shirley drew her inner strength from her faith and love of God. She lived her everyday life and professional life with a great deal of zeal and love for her fellow man. Shirley was a woman for all seasons, who will be missed by her many friends and family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Shirley's name to St. Mary's School Foundation and Trust, 1101 E. Fifth Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457.