Dixie Winston (Johnson) Root, 83, died Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at her home in Weymouth, Mass. She was the wife of the late Stephen Eastman Root, Jr.

Dixie was born July 1, 1942, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Claude Walden Johnson, Jr. and Dixie Stewart Johnson. She grew up in Ft. Thomas, Ky., and graduated in 1960 from Highlands High School in Ft. Thomas. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Denison University in Granville, Ohio, and her master’s degree from Brown University in Providence, R.I. She taught Spanish and French for 40 years at high schools, including Highlands and Guilford High School in Guilford, Conn.

Dixie and Steve met in Boston, Mass., at the Bull & Finch Pub, where Dixie was playing piano and Steve struck up a conversation. They married on Feb. 28, 1970, in Dixie’s childhood home in Ft. Thomas. Married for 54 years, they had two children, Jonathan Quinby and Lizabeth Walden, and lived together in Boston; Montreal, Quebec; Concord and Amherst, N.H.; Ft. Thomas; and for more than 40 years in Guilford. She spent her last year living in Weymouth with her daughter and son-in-law, as Dixie courageously battled ovarian cancer.

Dixie was the second oldest of nine children: Denny, Dixie, Anne, Ginger, Bobby, Jane, Nancy, Liza and Doug. Her large family was one of the greatest sources of love, joy and pride in her life. She loved spending time with them and their own growing families, especially at the Johnson family summer home in Lake Leelanau, Mich. She loved traveling, tennis, swimming, boating, reading and vodka and tonics. And perhaps above all, music. Dixie was a tremendously gifted pianist. She played for fun, for family, for crowds small and big. She could play anything by ear, and gladly regaled wherever she went. She’s probably taking requests right now.

Dixie is survived by her son Jonathan and his wife, Melissa, of Mattapoisett, Mass.; her daughter Lizabeth and her husband, Scott, of Weymouth; her six grandchildren, Madeleine Root, Aidan Root, Allison Root, Erin Root, Faith Gagnon and Josh Gagnon; her seven younger siblings; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be Sunday, May 17 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at McDonald Keohane Funeral Home, 809 Main St., South Weymouth, Mass. A brief prayer service will be held at 12:30 p.m. A private reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.