Dixie Ray FlashNew Iberia - New Iberia - A celebration of life will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 at the chapel in Pellerin Funeral Home in New Iberia for Dixie Ray Flash, 76, who passed away on Friday, September 29, 2017, surrounded by family and friends.Entombment will follow in Holy Family Cemetery in New Iberia.Father Mark Miley will officiate.A gathering of family and friends will be Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. in New Iberia. A rosary, led by the Men's Rosary Group, will be prayed at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday.Visitation will continue on Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. until the time of service.A resident of New Iberia, Dixie was born on August 9, 1941 in Opelousas, Louisiana. Dixie's adventures in life started when she secretly eloped in Mississippi in a borrowed car with her love Gene Flash. She committed her life to being a loving wife and devoted mother caring for and raising her family. In defense of her children, Dixie was notorious for badgering umpires and referees to the point of being ejected out of numerous ballparks. She was the mom who never missed her childrens' functions, never complained about baking cookies on short notice when her services were unknowingly volunteered, and was the perfect mother in their eyes. In private, she had a knack for making each one of children feel as if they were her favorite. Dixie was also extremely involved in the lives of her grandchildren, and provided pivotal support in the difficult early days of her special grandson, Rhett.Dixie was the co-founder of Dixie Electric, Inc., along with her husband Gene. She was one of the first graduates of the Teche Vocational Nursing School receiving her License Practical Nurse (LPN). Dixie was a longtime nurse and a loyal employee at Iberia Medical Center (formerly Iberia Parish Hospital) where she spent the majority of her career and retired in 2001. She was lovingly referred to as "the little general" amongst her peers and had an excellent reputation as a dedicated nurse and advocate for her patients. In her spare time, Dixie was also an enthusiastic MaryKay beauty consultant for over 40 years.Dixie was generous with her time having been a longtime volunteer and member of board of directors for the United Way and March of Dimes. She was a talented makeup artist for the New Iberia Little Theatre and the Royal Courts of the Krewes of Iberians and Andalusia for many years.Dixie and Gene were active in the square-dancing community in their younger years. She loved Mardi Gras and the debauchery it entailed, and reveled at being the Queen Mother for the Mystic Krewe de Fou. Dixie loved sitting on her porch drinking coffee, watching the hummingbirds, the color purple, the musical Mamma Mia, collecting mugs, watching the Hallmark Channel and The Golden Girls, and playing games on her iPad. But most of all, she loved her family.Survivors include her husband, Gene Flash of New Iberia; sons Curtis "Booby" Flash and wife Teresa of New Iberia; Michael Flash and wife Allison of New Iberia; daughters, Lynn Deckard and husband Rocko of New Iberia; Katie Flash of New Orleans; brother, Leon "Sonny" Ray and wife Sheila of Opelousas; sisters, Susan Kinniff of Lafayette, Julie Ray and spouse Aimee of New Orleans; five grandchildren: Rhett, Alec, Jakob, Kimberly and her husband Brett; and two great grandchildren, Eleanor and Amelia.She was preceded in death by her father, Leon Ray; mother, Lorena Mallet Ray; father-in-law, Milton Flash; mother-in-law Eunice Flash; and brother-in-law Terry Flash.Pallbearers will be Alec Armentor, Harold Courtois, Jakob Deckard, Rocko Deckard, Brett Doumit and Jeff Jolet.Honorary pallbearers include Wade Batchelor, John Cousins, Kevin Flash, Major "Lee" Flash, Rhett Flash, Tim Markle, Leon "Sonny" Ray, Steve Sinitiere, Amanda Dobyns, Arlene Graffeo, and Dr. Tina Theriot.To view the online obituary, sign the guest book, or view the video tribute, please go to www.pellerinfuneralhome.com.In addition to flowers, donations may also be made in Dixie's honor to The March of Dimes and Angel Paws Adoption Center (1314 Troy Road) in New Iberia.Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace, New Iberia, LA 70560, 337.365.3331, is in charge of the arrangements