Dixie Mae Sanborn

Dixie Mae Sanborn, born October 15, 1937, in Portland, Maine, to Allen and Lorraine Naugler, passed away on February 27, 2026. Named by a coin toss between Diane and Dixie, she carried her maternal grandmother’s middle name, Mae, and shared a particularly close bond with her grandmother Margaret Mae Heenie.

An only child, Dixie spent much of her childhood on Long Island in Casco Bay, Maine. There, isolated by an hour-and-a-half ferry ride from the mainland, she developed a lifelong love of reading and nature. She explored the island woods, rescuing and rehabilitating animals, once carrying a baby beaver home in her backpack. Her Uncle Wendell nurtured this passion, teaching her respect for all creatures and their place in the world. This connection to nature remained with her always, expressed through her support of wildlife causes and organizations.

Dixie graduated from Westbrook High School in 1955. She was married to Wayne G. Sanborn for 33 years, and the two remained good friends after their divorce. She lived in Arcadia before moving to DeLand in 1967. Throughout her life, she worked in administrative roles and as a title researcher, while remaining active in the DeLand Business and Professional Women’s Club. She was known for her fun-loving spirit, her ability to keep confidences, and her refusal to take sides or hold grudges.

Dixie found joy in reading, attending her grandchildren’s sporting events, watching sports on television, going to the movies, and sharing her home with a succession of beloved cats. She cherished a good bowl of ice cream, an engaging book, and a glass of wine. Above all, she met life with easy laughter, a sharp wit, and graceful acceptance.

She is survived by her four children, Rhonda (Mark Scott) of Treasure Island, Randy (Patti Swartz), Russell (Linda), and Renee (Hal) Rogers, all of DeLand; ten grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.