SARASOTA, Fla. – The Rev. Herbert S. Hixon passed away peacefully and with dignity, with his family by his side, on Sunday, July 10, in Sarasota, Fla. He treasured being a husband, father, grandfather, pastor, teacher and friend, and will be remembered by the many whose lives he touched.

Born in Medford, Mass., on Feb. 9 1937, he was raised in Jefferson. He attended Barrington College in Rhode Island and received a B.S. degree from the University of Southern Maine, and attended seminary at Boston University and in Washington, D.C.

During his ministry, he pastored a number of churches, including Edgecomb Baptist Church, Bristol Congregational Church, Methodist Church of South Waldoboro, Martinsville Baptist Church, Dresden Methodist Church, Dresden Richmond United Methodist Church and the Second Baptist Church of Bowdoinham, where he was honored as pastor emeritus.

He served as minister of music at Cox Memorial Church in Hallowell and Winter Street Baptist Church in Gardiner, as well as camp meetings throughout New England with his family. While in Florida, he assisted the music programs at Colonial Oaks Baptist Church and the Corner Stone Baptist Church in Sarasota, where he wintered. He summered in Richmond.

An accomplished musician, he taught music to students in Warren, Waldoboro, Newcastle, North Whitefield and Richmond, as well as teaching fifth and sixth grade, and serving as assistant principal at the Marcia Buker School in Richmond for many years. He was an active member of the Masons, Eastern Star and the Grange.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 47 years, Genesee, of Sarasota, Fla.; his four children, Lois Cooper of Richmond, Loren Hixon and wife, Margaret, of Sarasota, Fla., Lee Hixon and wife, Julia, of Minot, and Landon Hixon and wife, Kelley, of Richmond; 13 grandchildren, Genesee Lee, Landon, Justin, Ruchelle, Stuart, Phillip, Kalyn, Joshua, Nicholas, Aisha, Elora, Jenacy and Michael; three sisters, Katherine Karlson of Windsor, Florence Browning and husband, Homer, of Northfield, Mass., and Beverly Fonokolafi of Greenville, S.C.; one brother, Willfred Hixon and wife, Frieda, of Saugus, Mass.; many nieces and nephews; and his seeing-eye dog, Scanner.

He loved people and life, and led by example. He not only “talked the talk,” but he “walked the walk.” Although we will miss him dearly, we know that God has welcomed him home.