Megan Dix celebrated at funeral for her love of family
‘What an outpouring. It’s awesome. It’s therapeutic to see how many lives one person can touch.’– Rev. Dan Thurber tells 400 mourners at Megan Dix’s funeral
Megan Dix
MEDINA – The mourners started descending upon Oak Orchard Assembly of God at 10:30 a.m. today, a half hour before calling hours for Megan Dix.
The line never ended before her funeral at 2 p.m. In fact, the large group of grieving community members had to be urged to take a seat in the church so the funeral could start on time.
About 400 people filled the Oak Orchard Assembly of God. Cars were lined along Ridge Road and Oregon Road by the church.
“Wow. Wow, Chris,” the Rev. Dan Thurber, pastor of the church, told Megan’s husband at the start of the funeral. “This is for Megan. What an outpouring. It’s awesome. It’s therapeutic to see how many lives one person can touch.”
Dix was shot in a random act of violence on Friday while taking a lunch break in Brockport. She was at a small parking lot on South Avenue, near Lowe’s, where she worked a credit coordinator.
Dix, 33, is the youngest of her eight siblings. She and her husband have an 8-year-old son, CJ.
She loved the outdoors, bowling, Amerks hockey games, Pinterest and most of all, her family.
“She was loved by everyone she touched,” Thurber told the crowd, many wiping away tears. “She was a very caring and unselfish person whose family meant the world to her.”
The service started with the playing of “May We All” by Florida Georgia Line. “Last Kiss” by Pearl Jam was then played.
Several people spoke about Dix’s friendliness and her infectious “giggle.”
Photos were displayed of Megan Dix as a young girl and as an adult, with her husband Chris and their son, CJ.
Megan’s aunt, Joni Dix, recalled Megan going to her older brothers’ wrestling matches when she was a young girl. When she was 2 or 3, she debuted at the matches wearing an orange and black cheerleading costume – Lyndonville’s colors.
“Everyone adored this little girl who came to support her brothers,” Joni Dix said.
She watched Megan and Chris fall in love. The couple stayed in love, making time for each other and maintaining a good sense of humor at each other’s expense, Dix said.
Megan showered her family with affection, and could always be counted on at family events.
“Megan knew that giving hugs and saying, ‘I love you,’ mattered,” her aunt said.
She challenged the mourners to follow Megan’s example. “Please live a life that matters,” Dix said.
Megan’s brothers, Don and Bill Duncanson, both spoke during the service. Bill addressed Megan’s son.
“CJ, there will always be a special angel in Heaven for you,” he said.
Megan’s father, David Duncanson, also spoke during the service, thanking the community for their support. But, he said, “The hurt is incredible.”
Megan’s husband Chris spoke to the group, saying Friday “was the worst day of my life.”
He tried to reach his wife by text at 3 p.m. When he didn’t hear from here at 6:30 p.m., he and a friend went to find her. She was discovered at 8 p.m.
Chris said he couldn’t stop his body from a feeling of freezing for about a day. He couldn’t eat.
Chris was in the back seat of a police car on Friday night, and the officer cranked up the heat. The radio came on with, “God, Your Mama, and Me” by the Backstreet Boys and Florida Georgia Line. Chris never liked the song, and he told Megan that many times. But she would sing along enthusiastically.
In his grief, he felt that was a sign she was there.
When he went home Saturday night, his golden retriever, “Teddy,” climbed up in the bed. The dog normally wouldn’t do that. Teddy took a spot on Megan’s side of the bed. Megan always insisted Chris hold her for 5 minutes before they went to sleep. That night, the dog wouldn’t leave until Chris held it. Chris took that as a sign from Megan.
With his wife the victim of a homicide and with Megan’s killer on the loose for several days, Chris said he was angry with God. Tuesday, the Brockport police chief and Monroe County sheriff announced an arrest in the murder.
Chris said he could finally cry with that news. He also felt his faith had been restored.
“In that moment I knew there was a God and He was watching,” Chris told the mourners. “I may never understand, but there is a God and He is watching and He is there for us.”
The funeral closed with “If You Get There Before I Do” by Collin Raye and “Wrapped Up In You” by Garth Brooks.
Thurber also had the group sing, “Amazing Grace.” The pastor said they would see Megan again because of their faith in God.
“She is alive now more alive than she has ever been,” Thurber said.
Megan is shown when she was a kid, growing up as the youngest of eight siblings.
