Dawn Marie Dillingham

Dawn Marie Stanek Dillingham, 54, passed away on August 13, 2026, leaving behind a life filled with love, family, creativity, generosity, and more holiday decorations than most people could ever imagine. 

Dawn was born on February 3, 1972, in Creve Coeur, Missouri, at St. John's Mercy Medical Center to Sheryll Lynn Hall and Jeffery Stanek.

 On July 31, 1991, Dawn met the love of her life, Michael Dillingham. The two were married on October 7, 1994, and spent the next three decades building a beautiful life together. Over their 35 years together, that life grew to include four children, eight grandchildren, countless family members and friends, and a home where people always knew they were welcome.

 Dawn had an incredible gift for making a house feel like a home. Walking into their home you were greated by an aroma of cinnamon apple, and spice year round. She was endlessly creative and could make something beautiful out of almost anything. She baked the most amazing cupcakes, crafted extraordinary wreaths, painted home décor, repurposed old furniture and gave forgotten pieces new life, and loved collecting oddities and antiques. Her creativity seemed to have no limits.

 But of all Dawn's gifts, perhaps her greatest was simply giving.

 She gave her time, her talents, her creations, and her love freely and rarely asked for anything in return. Making someone else happy was often enough for her. Dawn loved every holiday, but Halloween and Christmas were her passion. Those who knew her knew exactly why she earned the title “Queen of Halloween & Christmas.”

 Dawn didn't simply put up a few decorations. She began preparing months in advance, transforming her home and yard with lights and decorations for the entire community to enjoy.

 At Halloween, Dawn created special “Boo Bags” filled with little gifts for the children, and everyone knew her house was the house to visit while trick-or-treating—because Dawn wasn't handing out the little candy bars. She gave away the full-size ones. She coordinated visits to neighborhood homes for free scares from "Michael Meyers" and if you were one of the lucky ones you might find your home had been "Boo'ed" with special treat bags left on your porch.

 Then came Christmas.

 Dawn's home became a winter wonderland filled with lights, decorations, warmth, and everything she loved about the season. She prepared her special “Santa Bags” so that those who came to visit could leave with a gift. For Dawn, celebrating a holiday wasn't just about decorating her own home. It was about creating something magical that her family, friends, neighbors, and community could enjoy with her.

  At the center of everything, however, was Dawn's family.

 She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Her eight grandchildren were the light of her life, and being their grandmother brought her tremendous joy.

 Dawn is survived by her husband, the love of her life, Michael Dillingham; their four children, Jazmine Wood and husband Stephon; Hudson Dillingham and wife Maddie; Bailey Majors and husband Nathan; Brendan Dillingham and wife Stormie: her eight beloved grandchildren: Lily Wood; Oliver, Grayson, Bennett, and Monroe Majors; Sammie, Benjamin, and Theodore Dillingham, each of whom held a very special place in her heart. Father Jeffery Stanek and step-mother Carol, brother Bryan Stanek; as well as the entire team of True Blue Heat and Air employees and friends who became her extended family.

 Dawn was preceded in death by her mother, Sheryll Lynn Hall, grandparents, Earl & Helena Hall, and Uncle Bruce Hall.

 Dawn's life cannot simply be measured by the years between February 3, 1972, and August 13, 2026. It can be measured in the family she built, the people she loved, the things she created, the furniture she rescued, the cupcakes she baked, the gifts she gave, the children who carried home Boo Bags and Santa Bags, and the countless people who slowed down to look at her lights and decorations.

 It can be measured in a home that always felt inviting, in the familiar scent of cinnamon apple and spice, and in the memories her husband, children, grandchildren, family, friends, and community will carry with them.

 There will never be another Queen of Halloween & Christmas quite like Dawn. 

She was deeply loved, and she will be deeply missed. 

A Celebration of Life is being held on October 13, 2026 to celebrate her life and enjoy time with all those she loved. It will be held in Greenville as a come and go event. From 6:00-8:00 PM Adrianna Estates Venue 373 FM 1903 Greenville, TX 75402 A special thank you to Beatriz Forbes for the gift of the beautiful castle for the celebration, Dawn loved the venue.