Donna Faye Hixon

Donna Faye Hixon, PhD., age 74, of Erie, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at her residence surrounded by family.  

Donna was born on February 15, 1949, in Mount Pleasant, PA, the only child of the late George and Hazel McKnight Hixon.  Donna graduated from Frazier High School, West Virginia University, and the University of Pittsburgh where she earned both her Master of Public Health and her PhD.  She worked for Erie County Children & Youth and Edinboro University of PA as a Professor and Department Chair in Social Work.  Donna was a professor emeritus of Edinboro University (now Penn West).  She had a passion for social work which led to a career helping children and families with mental health and child welfare. She was instrumental in the development of a graduate program while at Edinboro University.  Donna enjoyed gardening, which she learned from her maternal grandmother and her father. She also had a special place in her heart for her cats. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her stepdaughter, Dana Dawson.  

Donna is survived by her husband, Thomas Dawson; stepson, Carmen Dawson (Ebony Britton) and their sons, Carmen Jr. and Elijah, of Naples FL; stepdaughter, Tammy Merriweather (Augustus, III) and their children, Augustus Merriweather, IV and Ashley Merriweather, of Dayton OH; and granddaughter, Brooklyn Bethea, of Rahway, NJ.

Family and friends may call on the family at Burton Quinn Scott Cremation & Funeral Services Inc. Downtown, 602 W 10th St., on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. until time of sharing at 12:00 p.m. which will be live streamed at https://www.facebook.com/BurtonQuinnScott. Light refreshments will be served prior to the family’s departure to Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery.  

Send condolences at www.burtonquinnscott.com