Guy Dean Dixon

Died: Feb. 6, 2010

Austin Guy Dean Dixon, died Saturday at his home, following an extended illness, with his family by his side.

A Greeneville native, he was born March 10, 1932, the first born of the late Levi Greene Dixon and Virginia Vergie Dixon.

His family provided the following statement: "Mr. Dixon was a gentle man with a humble spirit. He had a great love for God and had, on several occasions, quoted verses from the Bible to many of his family and friends.

"He attended Bethel Baptist Church as long as his health permitted where he proclaimed his love for Christ on many occasions. He was very devoted to his church and his family. He enjoyed visiting his church family at their homes and spending time with them.

"He also enjoyed very much his children and grandchildren, sharing with them stories of his life as a young boy. He will be dearly and sadly missed by his family and all that had the pleasure of knowing him."

On Dec. 16, 1953, he married the former Bertha Waddell. They were married 56 years. They raised nine children, including the youngest, Pamela, who is a special needs child.

"In 1967, Mr. Dixon was employed by TennCraft until the business closed. He then joined Forest Products Co. He enjoyed farming the land as well. Being a tobacco producer, he and his family grew tobacco on the Crum family farm for nearly two decades as well as the Bewley family farm for more than a decade.

"In the mid 1970s, he purchased a farm where he, along with his wife and children, harvested tomatoes and peppers for the market. Through the farming business, he and his wife instilled in their children values and good morals, as well as, a good work ethic.

"Mr. Dixon and his family were very close to the late Rev. Joe and Daisy Brown, who were a great inspiration to the Dixon family."

In addition to his wife, survivors include six daughters and sons-in-law: Carolyn Darlene Dixon, Kathy Charlene and Jerry Bailey, Vickie Sue and the Rev. Earl Bailey, Mrs. Ken (Mary Elizabeth) Cutshaw, and Teresa Ann and Brian Hawk, all of Greeneville, and Pamela Gail Dixon of the home; three sons and daughters-in-law: the Rev. Michael Dean and Deborah Presley Dixon, Travis Trent and Holly Jaynes Dixon, and Timothy Keith Dixon, all of Greeneville; 16 grandchildren and their spouses: Tracey Walter Foshie, Marcus Dean Foshie, Bobby Lynn Whitaker Jr., Jason Lynn Bailey, Anthony Lynn and Heather Bailey, Christopher Nathan and Annie Bailey, and Rachel Leann Bailey, all of Greeneville, Crystal Suzanne and Jeffrey Mundy of Barnardsville, N.C., Brandon Wayne Bailey of Greeneville, Candace Yvonne and Brad Duncan of Jonesborough, Casey Lynn Dixon, Tiffany Nicole Dixon, and Cilicia Gail Dixon, all of Newport, Chase Austin Dixon, Victoria Elizabeth Dixon, and Caleb Harrison, all of Greeneville; 13 great-grandchildren, "all of whom he simply cherished," his family stated; several nieces and nephews; a special cousin: Carolyn Brown Capps and her husband, Randy, of Greeneville; several very special brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; and his special friends: Wanda Hux, and Jim and Edna Cutshaw and all his friends at Tipton's Café.

He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Karen Beth Bailey; four brothers: Earl Dixon, Pearson Dixon, Teddy Dixon and Billy Dixon, whom "he dearly missed and spoke of on numerous occasions," his family noted.

The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. today at Kiser-Rose Hill Funeral Home.

The funeral service will be held at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon in the funeral home chapel. The Rev. Charles Ervin and the Rev. Billy Williams will officiate.

Entombment will follow in GreeneLawn Memory Gardens Mausoleum.

Pallbearers will be grandsons.

Honorary pallbearers will be the Rev. Bobby Waddell, the Rev. Jerry Scalf, the Rev. Larry Ledford, the Rev. Richard Bailey, the Rev. Calvin Lester, the Rev. Gerald Rudd; the staff of Smoky Mountain Home Health and a special nurse, Mitzi Kemp; Kenneth Dixon, Clarence Cogdell, Jimmy Willis and family, Kent Bewley and other church friends in Tennessee and North Carolina; Dr. Garcia and Dr. Beckner.

Condolences may be sent to the Dixon family at www.KiserRoseHill.com