My mom and I were Jolene's visiting teachers
for about 3 years.
She was diagnosed last June with cancer.
When we first became a branch, she was Bonnie Dalton's
counselor in Relief Society.
When mom had her surgery, Jolene came to the condo
every month so we could visit teach her.
We were able to take her a few dinners in the last
little while. She liked meals from Zupa's, but she
LOVED when we brought the soup, salad, and breadsticks from
Olive Garden!
Jolene Williams Dixon
Jolene was born on December 21, 1939, in Price, Utah. She spent her first few years with her Grandma Taylor,
and was later adopted by her loving parents, Glen and Mabel Williams. Jolene was the oldest of three children
and many foster children. She loved growing up in Spanish Fork, Utah, where she graduated from
Spanish Fork High School in 1958. Jolene attended Brigham Young University from 1958 to 1961 and studied
Child Development. She served an LDS mission in the Great Lakes Mission from January 1961 to July 1962,
where she met David Dixon. On December 21, 1962, she was married to Dave in the Manti LDS Temple.
They later divorced in 1987.
The first several years of her marriage were happily spent in sunny Escondido and San Luis Obispo, California,
where her children were all born. Jolene and her family moved due to job changes and ended up living in
Bountiful, Utah, from 1976 till 2007, where she enjoyed many wonderful friendships. Following her retirement
in 2007, Jolene moved to American Fork, Utah, where she got involved in new activities, including humanitarian
projects, and served in various LDS church callings and on her HOA board.
Jolene loved her family so much! She always told stories of the great times she had spending with her
large extended family growing up. She continued this legacy of family love with her 5 children,
12 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren, who loved spending time with her whenever they could.
She was an enthusiastic supporter of her family and enjoyed attending their games, concerts, plays,
and graduations. She was known for offering encouragement and collecting inspiring quotes and scriptures
to share with her loved ones.
Music has always been a highlight of Jolene’s life. She loved singing and traveling with the Mountain Jubilee
Chorus of Sweet Adelines for almost 30 years. She loved listening to good music and enjoyed the Utah
Opera Festival in Logan each year and serving as choir director for many years in her LDS wards.
Music has become a big part of all her children’s lives because of her influence.
She held many callings in her LDS church wards and stakes over the years, which helped her develop and
share her talents of leadership, organization, and fun. Some of her favorite callings were leading choirs and
working with the young women.
As her children grew up, Jolene was a wonderful homemaker and mom. She liked trying new recipes and
was known for her traditional orange pancakes, clam chowder and Finnish Christmas bread. Jolene began
her next career at the University of Utah in 1986, after her children were grown. She was hired as a secretary
in the Graduate School of Social Work, and eventually became the network administrator after years of
dedication and training. One of her greatest accomplishments in her career was establishing the University
of Utah’s President’s Staff Awards, which has continued to grow.
In all phases of her life, Jolene was always willing to learn new things and become better. She was a great
organizer and leader. She faced many difficult challenges throughout her life, but she was always able to look
for the good and have a positive attitude. This was largely possible because of the support and love of dear
friends and her desire to reach out to serve others. Jolene was a lifelong missionary and often shared her love
of the gospel and her faith in Jesus Christ with others.
At age 78, Jolene passed on from this life peacefully just after noon on February 11, 2018, as she was
surrounded by family in her home in American Fork. She is survived by her children: Michele Dixon,
Brian (Trish) Dixon, Jeff Dixon, Eric (Bonnie) Dixon, 11 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren and a sister
Gayle (Mike) Valdez. She was preceded in death by her parents, her son Glen, her brother Dick Williams
and a granddaughter Dani DiSera.
Her funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 17, 2018 in the American Fork 38th Ward
church building, 239 E 1100 S, American Fork, UT. (County address is 5650 W 6800 N, Utah County.)
A viewing will be held Friday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Anderson & Sons Mortuary, 49 E 100 N, American Fork,
and Saturday at the church from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. before the funeral. The burial will be in the Springville
Evergreen Cemetery.
