In Loving Memory Of Dana Roxine (Middlebrooks) Samuelson
June 22, 1956 ~ July 13, 2025
Dana Roxine ("Rox" affectionately) Middlebrooks was born in Littlefield, Texas on June 22, 1956. She was the daughter of Danny Sue (Powell) and Allen Dale Middlebrooks of nearby Bula, Texas. Dana passed away Sunday, July 13, 2025, at age 69 in she and her husband's home.
She was often ill and missed many school days as a child, but that did not stop her from creating a life of meaning, perseverance, and personal achievement. She attended Littlefield schools through her junior year. She played flute in the high school band and played piano. She had been active in Brownies and Girl Scouts. Dana got a G.E.D. at 18, and attended South Plains College in Levelland, Texas for two years, and then transferred to Texas Tech in Lubbock where she majored in elementary education from 1976 until 1979. Moving to the Dallas area she attended North Texas State University (University of North Texas) beginning in 1979 and graduated with her degree in 1981. Growing up in a small town, Dana adored her grandmother, Martha Powell, a nurse, and was inspired by her in matters of faith in God, and faith in Christ. Dana kept "In The Garden", Martha's favorite, hung on her kitchen wall and Martha's sayings close at hand.
Let Dana tell it in her words from 1996: "I married and had a child very early in my life. This was not something I planned, and it was not a happy time for me. I realized that the only way I could ever achieve any real success and self-esteem was through education. I stayed enrolled from 1974 until 1981, when I graduated with a B.S. in Education. This was not an easy time for me, and life seemed difficult with the demands of being a good mother, and competent parttime employee while maintaining my good grades. Through my desire and persistence I finally achieved one of my goals which was my B.S. degree. After graduation, I decided not to teach. I wanted to be a pharmaceutical representative." Dana began work for Penwalt Pharmaceuticals in November, 1981 until she left that company to work with Abbott Laboratories in 1985 until 1987, when she got a job with Ciba-Geigy and worked there until 1992.
"In 1989, I married a wonderful man, and in 1992, we decided that it was the right time for me to quit my job and start graduate school." Her work as a pharmaceutical representative introduced Dana to many opportunities to travel, meet professional people, and to use the personal computer as it began to be used in business. Her words: "The job had been a blessing for a long time, but I decided it was time to do what I have always wanted to do - go back to school. I enrolled in East Texas State University in the graduate program in 1995 and I seriously believed that I would enjoy a career as a community counselor. I have enjoyed the classes that I have completed at East Texas State University, I have thirty hours and a 3.8 G.P.A." Besides her pharmaceutical jobs, an abiding interest in medicine, and her education pursuits, Dana's other interests included being an avid true crime reader, writing, collecting Barbie dolls, church volunteer work, serving with charitable organizations, modeling, and dancing. She wrote an idea, that appeared in a contest in 1996 by the Dallas Morning News, for a new "Dallas" type series called "Women of North Dallas High". She loved to write poetry with her father. She walked the runway in a fashion show by the Dallas County Medical society, and chaired the raffle at that event. Dana was a group leader in the AWANA children's Bible memory program at Northwest Bible Church for two years. Dana assisted in a fund raiser for the Pine Cove Christian youth camps in east Texas. In 1993 the Texas Youth Commission honored Dana with a plaque for "OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN and FAMILIES". In 1997, she chaired a silent auction event for Les Femmes du Monde, an organization that was created to assist in fund raising for the Dallas Council on World Affairs. Also, that year she contributed to the spring fund raiser through solicitation work for the fashion show. In 1999, Dana resigned from Les Femmes du Monde noting declining health and energy. Dana also enjoyed dancing with the Star Dancers, a dance troupe at Scarborough Faire, a medieval festival. She and Bob also took dance lessons and enjoyed dancing at Dallas clubs. In 2004, she was finally diagnosed after years of medical workups with a congenital subclass immunoglobulin deficiency and rheumatoid arthritis which had affected her health all her life, then in 2023 she faced a new diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosis. The North Texas Infectious Disease group at Baylor superintended her care through all these years. During all those medically hectic years she attended Northwest Bible, Town North Bible, and Redeemer Bible.
Dana Middlebrooks, by then Samuelson, spent a lot of effort with her father, Dale Middlebrooks, who by the early 1990's developed Alzheimers. She planned trips with her parents to Sipapu, New Mexico for three years and one trip to Hilton Head, South Carolina. Her daily calls to him, being his domino partner, and helping him with his meals, lottery tickets, and television schedules filled many of her days as she began years of medical care she needed for herself. After Dale died in 2006 it was very soon Dana began caring for her mother who died in 2024, another long difficult journey that sapped Dana's dwindling energy.
Dana lived a life full of intellectual curiosity, love for others, and creative expression. When she was well enough Dana delighted in cruises, and weekly restaurant dining, some of her favorite places included: Il Sorrento, Ruggeris, Arthurs, Terillis, and Javiers. In 2015 Dana became a regular wherever Dave Tanner played his dance music and made many lifelong friends among his followers.
Dana came up with an idea for a true crime book based on the murder of a physician, Dr. Roy Hunt, in Littlefield, Texas in the 1940s. Dana and her husband, Bob, traveled Texas, researched, and wrote Clovis Road together and it was published in 2009, and then an updated version, Clovis Road Second Edition was complete in 2013.
Dana loved working daily crossword puzzles with her husband. Dana loved her mallard duck, Baby Huey, that she raised from a chick in 1996 until he died in 2014. Finally, she loved doting on an older couple down the block on Highgate Lane, retired Judge Ted Robertson and his wife, Margie, and their dog, Rocky.
Dana died at home and went to her heavenly home on July 13, 2025. In her final chapters, Dana faced unimaginable mental heaviness. Her passing is a stark and painful reminder of how draining the weight of chronic illness and emotional suffering can be. She was loved. She mattered. And she will be missed beyond measure.
Dana is survived by her husband, of 36 years, Dr. Robert (Bob) Samuelson, and two sons, Christopher Shawn Ogletree of Visalia, California and David Andrew Samuelson of Dallas, Texas. Also, surviving is Dana's granddaughter, Abigail Ogletree, Dana's brother, Brett Allen Middlebrooks, two nephews: Dale Allen Middlebrooks and his wife, Liliana and their children, Lucas and Vivian, and nephew, Jett Middlebrooks and his wife, Daniella.
The family especially thanks faithful friends Jennifer Taylor, Sharon Brown, Nikki Matthews, Judy Reitsma, Beverly Mays, and Darlene Pyburn for rich warm encouragement and fellowship they freely gave daily to Dana in these lupus years when she felt so very lonely.
Services at Restland Funeral Home are pending with Rev. Kent Barnard officiating. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Alzheimer's Association.