Milton Schexnayder

Whether you called him, “Daddy, Pawpaw, Shake, Uncle Joe, or Mr. Joe” Milton Joe Schexnayder was admired and loved by many. He was born on September 28, 1934 to the late Albert Schexnayder and Pinky Schexnayder in Jeanerette, Louisiana. There he grew up with 12 brothers and sisters and achieved his education in the public school system.

At a very young age Milton understood the importance of hard work (he got his first job at the age of 9). Without hesitation, he worked various jobs determined to support himself.  At the age of 17, he followed his older sister Lillian and migrated from Jeanerette, Louisiana to Beaumont, Texas. 

In Beaumont, when he was 28, he met the one and only true love of his life, Laura Sue Diggles (Jasper, TX). Their love quickly blossomed into marriage on September 17, 1963. He did not hesitate even for a second to immediately become a loving father in a ready-made family. In their union six children were raised: Jeannell, Debra, Herbert, Randy, Joseph, and Raquel.

At around 20 years of age, he began work for the City of Beaumont in the waste management division. He held this position for more than 20 years. Afterwards, he transitioned to Malone & Hyde as a Service Mechanic until 1986 when the family relocated to Fort Worth, TX. In Fort Worth, he worked in highway construction at Mica Corporation and later retired in 1997.

A simple man that always stood for what he believed in and was never hesitant about speaking his mind regarding those core beliefs. He was a “family man”.  He adored his wife and truly enjoyed spending time with his children and extended family. He believed in laughing and loved telling stories that fueled the imagination. He was loyal, honest, faithful, and above all else “a great provider”. The true definition of a “real man” in every sense.

He had a passion for music, particularly the blues. He taught us to pay attention to the lyrics, and the unique sounds of the different instruments. His other favorite pastime was sports.  Football and the Dallas Cowboys was his favorite, but he was happy if there was a game on television somewhere of any kind.   

He departed this life on April 12, 2021. A man who prayed every day and had great faith in Jesus Christ, was called home. He was preceded in death by his parents, his 12 siblings, son: Randy Dixon, granddaughter: Laura Lee Matthews, grandson in law: Damien Leger Sr., great grandson: Landon Slaughter.

He leaves to cherish his memory a loving and devoted wife of 57 years, Laura Schexnayder: five children: Jeannell Jones of Houston, TX, Debra Matthews of Duncanville, TX, Herbert Dixon Jr. (Diana) of Beaumont, TX, Joseph Schexnayder (Kelley) of Crowley, TX, and Brenda Raquel Torrence (Cornelius) of Cedar Hill, TX. Grandchildren: Curtis Hubbard, Sarah Leger, Crystal Dixon, and Sierra Neville of Beaumont, TX, Erron Debose, Tyus Williams, Detrick Hubbard, and Bryan Jones of Fort Worth, TX, Herbert Dixon III of Lamarque, TX, Kamille Jackson of Houston, TX, Courtney Reed (Travis) of Washington, DC, Denzel Schexnayder Hart and Daysha Gardner of Dallas, TX, and Trinity Torrence of Cedar Hill, TX, and a host of great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and extended family members and friends.

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