Dixie Watson

Dixie L (Torrey) Watson 69, a resident of Bennington, VT passed away Wednesday June 5th,2024 at St. Peters Hospital in Albany, NY following a brief illness. She was born in Brattleboro, VT on June 30th ,1954 and moved to Bennington in 1959. She was the daughter of Richard Torrey & Dora Flanders Torrey.

Dixie received her schooling in Bennington and was a graduate of the Mt. Anthony Class of 1972. She continued her education and received her degree in Business Management from Southern Vermont College. Later in life she returned to school and became a Licensed Insurance Agent.

In her early years growing up she worked at her parents’ business, Marra’s Shoe Store, on North Street in Bennington. After graduating she started her career with Chittenden Bank in Bennington where she worked as Transit Supervisor and then Secretary for the Bank President for many years. She then went on to work for Wills Insurance and then Concord Group Insurance Company. In the mid to late 1990’s, she returned to her Finance and Business career working as the Director of Finance at SVC College until her kidneys failed in the spring of 2004. After taking some time off to tend to her health she returned to the Insurance Industry and began working for Shaftsbury Insurance Agency. After receiving her kidney transplant in 2007, she and her friend and business partner, Ruth Goodwin, worked and then bought Shaftsbury Insurance Agency at the start of 2008. She took great pride in her career.  She was a member of and past Vermont State Director for the NAIW (National Association of Insurance Women). She was one of the original 6 members that founded the GMAIW (Green Mountain Insurance Women’s Association) as well as the Past President. In 2019, she and Ruth sold the Agency to The William Burns Agency.  Dixie continued to manage and run the Bennington Office location for the Burns Agency, taking care of all her clients until the time of her death.

Dixie is survived by her daughter, Torrey L. (Watson) King & husband Frank King III, her son Alan D. “AJ” Watson Jr., her 2 grandchildren who she loved and cherished immensely, Kayla King (Ryan) & Carter King. She is also survived by her brother, Richard “Rich” Torrey II (Laurie), her former husband & friend, Alan D. & (Dee) Watson Sr., her cousins Susan & (Jim) Bonnett, Barrett & (Lois) Fanning, Martin & (Lynn) Chaffee & Tonya & (Ron) Barker. She is also survived by her business partner & friend Ruth Goodwin, lifelong best friend Denise Taff, special friend and kidney donor, Lisa Gramling.  Without Lisa, Dixie would have left this world over 15 years ago. Dixie also is survived by a very large number of good friends that is too large to list whom she considered her extended family and clients that were special to her as well. Dixie was a very well-known person, and she was loved and cherished by many. She will be missed immensely by all that knew her.

Dixie is pre-deceased by her grandparents Harold & Louise Torrey and Arthur Flanders & Charlotte (Flanders) Chaffee, her parents Richard (Dick) & Dora Torrey, all her Aunts & Uncles, and many cousins.

In Lieu of Flowers, if you would like to make a donation in her memory, you may make a donation to help her children with her final arrangements and medical bills. Any money remaining after her expenses will be donated in her name to a charitable organization that her children will choose. Donations can be made to her daughter and mailed to the address of: 180 Kings Way Bennington, VT 05201

Dixie had requested not to have a traditional funeral but preferred to have a large cookout & Celebration of her Life in her memory. The family has planned her Celebration of Life and Gathering to reminisce about her life, memories and all her accomplishments on Saturday July 20th 2024 beginning at 12noon at her family’s house at 180 King’s Way in Bennington VT. This Celebration is open to all family, friends, past and current colleagues, clients and anyone whose lives she touched during her life.