Carolyn Anne Dixon

Carolyn Anne Dixon, 70 years of age, passed peacefully on Sunday, July 28, 2024, at her home in Parshall, Colorado, surrounded by family.

Born January 18, 1954, in Boulder, Colorado, Carolyn was the fourth of seven children born to Claude and Dorothy Ellison. In 1969, the Ellison family purchased a cattle ranch outside of Kremmling, Colorado. Here, Carolyn grew up working alongside her family raising sheep and cattle, riding horses, growing a garden, and many other things she would enjoy throughout her lifetime. She met the love of her life and spouse, William Woodrow “Bill” Dixon Jr., they were married on October 3, 1981. On October 8, 1986, Carolyn and Bill welcomed their son, William Woodrow “Woody” Dixon III, who was an uncertain blessing in their lives. Woody met and married Kristie, and, on March 15, 2017, Carolyn and Bill’s grandson, Wyatt Dixon, was born.

Along with her own son, Carolyn was integral in taking care of and raising her nieces, nephews and other children in the community, always making certain to facilitate imagination, creativity and fun. She loved to spend time outdoors and took solace in the beauty of the natural world around her, which often meant fun road trips and outdoor adventures for the kids. Carolyn would find the best spots for sightseeing, hiking, and playing, and because her love of the wild was so strong, this passion was passed to each of the children that got to enjoy it with her.

Carolyn was a kind, caring and beautiful person, inside and out, and along with all of her human kids, she absolutely loved her animal kids. Carolyn was never without a furry companion, or eleven, by her side and she truly loved each one of them. And they loved her as much as she loved them. Carolyn always had dogs, which were a constant shining light for her. Along with her dogs, she consistently had cats and horses, and she enjoyed hatching and raising chickens, turkeys and other poultry animals, or the occasional sheep, bottle calf, or whatever other creature that happened to come along in need.

Carolyn’s love for living things did not stop at kids and animals, as she was known to have a beautiful and immaculate garden, full of vegetables, fruits and herbs. She was the definition of a provider, as she would share her harvest in the form of fresh, canned or frozen goods with anyone that asked, oftentimes with those that didn’t ask, too. Her love for gardening was passed to her by her mother, and shared by her sisters, nieces and nephews.

Always active in the community, Carolyn devoted her life to caring for others, whether it was her own family, neighbors, friends, or other members of the community. From leading the local dog 4-H club to driving the school bus and assisted living center van, Carolyn spent her time immersed in shaping the minds of children and providing an indescribably positive atmosphere for everyone around. Carolyn and Bill also donated the building and foundation for the firehouse in Parshall, among a large list of other acts of service. No matter where Carolyn was, she was sure to leave an unwavering footprint on anyone lucky enough to have met her.

In passing, Carolyn joins her grandson, Wyatt Dixon, her parents Claude and Dorothy Ellison, her sisters, Peggy Ellison and Diane Foley, and numerous other loved ones. She is survived by her husband Bill Dixon, her son Woody Dixon and his wife Kristie Dixon, her siblings, Bill (Bonnie) Ellison, Cathy (Don) O’Hotto, Wendy (Bill) Thompson, Jim (Sam) Ellison, and many nieces and nephews. 

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, August 17th, 2024, at 10:00 am at the Parshall Chapel, 350 Main St, Parshall, CO 80468.