Irene Loris Dykema

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She was born and raised on a cotton farm in Altus, OK, which her father tended during the depression. The youngest of six children, “Sissy” was protective of her mother and was the last one left to help her mother care for her aging grandparents and great-grandparents while she was still in junior high school.

Irene was a popular girl, and she enjoyed going out on the town and spending time with friends after her caregiving duties were completed. A true beauty, she attracted several would-be-suitors before meeting a young airman stationed in nearby Wichita Falls by the name of John Dykema. They quickly married and, at the age of 17, Irene moved to California to start her new life as an Air Force wife. She described that time as a wake-up call, being so young and knowing little of the world, she honed her ‘do what it takes’ attitude and relied on her social instincts to make friends who supported her while her new husband was deployed.

From California, the couple moved to Puerto Rico where they welcomed their first child, John Brian. After two years there, the family moved to Peru, Indiana, where their second child, Tracy Charlene, was born. Three years later, they moved to Illinois, and then to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where Irene worked as a waitress at night after being with her children during the day. From there, they moved to Clinton, Mississippi where they purchased their first home and where Irene worked as a real estate assistant. During the four years in Mississippi, both of her children had health troubles which led Irene to develop tension headaches out of concern and stress. She was advised to focus her attention on something just for herself, and she chose painting. Thus began her life as an artist, at the age of 30.

After five more moves (Michigan to California to Wichita Falls back to California a 3rd time), John retired from the service and he and Irene moved to a farm in Chandler, TX. Within 6 months, Irene had opened an art studio and began teaching several classes a day for the next 21 years. She found teaching to be tiring but rewarding. She enjoyed helping her students learn to loosen up and tap into their desire to create rather than focus on perfection. Irene herself was an accomplished painter, specializing in detailed landscapes. John always thought of her paintings as evidence that she was as beautiful inside as she was outside.

Deciding to leave the countryside, John and Irene traveled the country in their motor home for a while before moving to San Angelo to a big home perfect for hosting gatherings and reunions. It was during this time Irene battled and survived stage 3 breast cancer. After John also beat cancer, they decided they’d like to move closer to quality medical care. This brought them to Belton in 2010. Irene wrote in her autobiography, “My next home is heaven.”

Throughout her life, Irene felt compelled to care for the elderly. She volunteered for many years with hospice patients, was drawn to elders in the church, and supported her aging friends. God was always central to her life which was evident to all who knew her. For the last 13 years, she was an active member of the Leon Valley Church of Christ.

Irene contracted RSV and was admitted to Scott & White Hospital in Temple on Christmas 2024. Over the next three weeks, the virus developed into double pneumonia and, at the age of 88, Irene passed away despite the diligent and caring staff of the Scott & White ICU. She passed peacefully and surrounded by her family.

Irene was a classy and righteous woman whose life was a testament to faith, fellowship, and creativity. She will be remembered for her love of others, her strength of will, and her steadfast devotion to the word of God. Though she will be deeply missed by all who knew her, there is comfort in knowing she is now with the Lord.

She concluded her autobiography with the following: “Life has been good. I have had a good man beside me. We have had [71] years together. One thing I can say and that is we have had God with us all the way. I learned early in life that God was my salvation. I was Baptized at an early age, and I know that He has guided me and been with me all my life. In knowing this all I have to do is look back. He was there.”