Dixie Brooke, 87

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. —  Dixie Brooke died on November 24 in Williamstown, MA at age 87. Dixie was a decades-long resident of Berkshire County and beloved member of the community.

Born in Long Beach, CA, Dixie Ann Cortner was the child of Norma Wood and Clarence “Smut” Cortner, a destroyer captain in WW2. She grew up in D.C and New Orleans. In her teenage years, she sailed around the world with her father to study at the Woodstock School in India, while Clarence served in New Delhi. She began college at Tulane in New Orleans, then transferred to Bryn Mawr. She finished college late in life, through courses in psychology and history at Williams.

After getting a MSW from Smith, Dixie worked in the region as a psychotherapist, including at Bennington College and Northern Berkshire Mental Health. She settled in Williamstown in 1977 and lived a long time on Green River Road, where she hosted artists and was active in the community. She was an avid traveler, theatergoer, reader, potter, and writer, known for her incisive curiosity, humor, and kindness.

She leaves behind two sons, Peter Brooke of London, UK, and Nick Brooke in Bennington Vermont, as well as an extended loving family of grandchildren, cousins and friends. She will be “shaking things up”, as one friend put it, wherever she is now.

A celebration service is planned this April along the Green River. In lieu of flowers, donations can be given to WMHT or VPR radio, as they were always on her dial. To add to the Book of Memories, please visit www.flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com