Lee Dixon, a beloved mother, died May 19 after a brief illness.

She will be remembered as an amazing music teacher, often found perched on the piano bench and surrounded by happy children. With her passion of music as choir and chorus director, singer and accompanist many lives were touched by her music.

She was born Sept. 10, 1932. She loved school and in 1950, during her senior year of high school, decided college was next. At her college interview she was told to go home, get married and have babies — because that’s what women were supposed to do. The Winterset, Iowa music teacher happily sponsored Lee and though she had to re-apply every year, she did go off to college.

Lee married her first husband, David Reed, moved to California and began her teaching career of 33 years. In 1963, Lee, David, their four children and a teenaged babysitter drove across the country in a red Corvair with an apartment in New York City as their destination.

She commuted to Hartsdale, N.Y. daily to teach music. Two years later the family moved to Ossining and eventually White Plains, N.Y. In the Scarsdale school district Lee developed many friendships that lasted all of her life.

After Lee and David divorced she married the true love of her life, Richard (Dick) Dixon. In June of 1987 they retired from teaching, bought and opened Harmony House bed and breakfast in Ghent, N.Y. They had six blissful years running the bed and breakfast until Dick tragically died tragically of cancer.

The time after Dick’s death was a dark time in Lee’s life until she saw an ad for a small chorus. Her musical passion woke up and took off, leading her to sing in elite choruses at Carnegie Hall and to accompany many musical groups in the Berkshires. It was there that more very special friendships with musical kindred spirits were born. A friend at the Berkshire Children’s Chorus, where she was the accompanist for many years, remembers Lee as a supporter of children’s choral music, a consummate pianist and a wonderful friend and ally. Each year, children formed personal relationships with her and benefited from her encouragement. Her personal and musical contributions were quiet but huge.

Lee loved the Vineyard. Her daughter Becca Morrow moved to the Island in 1974. On Lee’s first visit she ran down the Gay Head Cliffs and sculpted a small head out of clay. She adored and regularly visited as many lighthouses as possible. Many delightful Thanksgivings and Christmases were enjoyed with family, old and newfound friends. Houses with pianos were rented, with duets played and Christmas carols sung.

She is survived by her sons, Matt Reed of Valatie and David Reed of Redwood City, daughter Becca Morrow of West Tisbury, granddaughters Kara Gioulis and Madelyn Degler, and her great-grandchildren Layla and Micah.

She was predeceased by both of her husbands and her daughter, Sally Degler.