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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Good Neighbors: Mead couple’s kindness appreciated


Stephan and Debra Dickerson were nominated by their neighbors in the Whitworth area for their willingness to care for the people around them. 
 (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)
Juan Juan Moses The Spokesman-Review

In December 2006, Stephan and Debra Dickerson moved into a ranch house in Mead. Soon, to the delight of their neighbors, proved themselves to be a good fit and great addition to their neighbors on the little cul-de-sac they share.

The quiet and self-effacing couple were nominated by their neighbor Janet Culbertson for the Good Neighbor feature for all they have done for her and everyone else on the street.

Retired after 32 years with Qwest, Stephan Dickerson is an avid gardener and shares his plants readily with his neighbors. He has had quite a busy time shoveling the neighbors’ driveway this year. “Mostly I make sure that their driveway is cleared from the blocks of heavy snow piled up by plows.” he said. “Since my little snow blower cannot handle the volume of the snow fall, I want to make sure at least the neighbors’ driveways are not blocked by ice.”

He makes sure every mailbox in the cul-de-sac is cleared, and when there is a car stuck in the mess and there have been many in this recent record snow fall, he is right there helping with the pushing and digging. If Dickerson knows a neighbor is unable to get out of the house or sick, he takes the mail in for the neighbor.

Same is true with the garbage cans on the street. If a neighbor forgets to take in his garbage can after the truck comes by, he picks it up and puts it by the neighbor’s garage. Or, if it is garbage day and a neighbor’s can is not out by the road, he will go and move it out for the neighbor.

Little things like this mean quite a lot to many people. Not only do the neighbors enjoy each other’s good will, but practical things like knocking the heavy snow fall off a tree in danger of breaking under the weight is very important to people that is unable to do these sorts of things.

And Dickerson has always been someone who will do it as long as it needs to be done, regardless of whose job it is. “I just remember what it is to be working full time. It is hard to be working and trying to take care of things around the house.” He shrugged off the significance of his good deeds. “I am now retired and have the time. I am physically able to do it, so why not?”

Both the Dickersons credit their generosity to the way they were raised. “We just treat other the way we’d like to be treated ourselves,” they said.