Dr. Dixon Ferrin Larkin, born on July 3, 1947, passed away on November 11, 2023, due to multiple medical complications following a stroke that he suffered at age 49 in 1997.
A native of Ogden, Utah, Dixon was born to Louise Dixon and Elijah Ferrin Larkin, the eldest of six children. His educational journey began in Ogden City Schools, where he graduated from Ogden High School in 1965. Following an LDS mission in the Brazil South Mission from 1967 to 1969, Dixon crossed paths with his future wife, Carol Lyn White, in a University of Utah chemistry class. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on August 10, 1970, just after Carol completed her degree in Medical Technology.
Dixon attended the University of Utah, where he received his M.D. in 1974. Continuing to advance his medical training, he completed a surgical internship in 1975, a public health fellowship in 1976, and completed a radiation oncology residency from 1976 to 1979.
Dixon's career was marked by versatility. He practiced medicine for two years with Radiology Associates in Appleton, Wisconsin, before returning to school and earning his J.D. from Brigham Young University and joining the Utah State Bar in 1984. Dixon worked for Jones, Waldo, Holbrook and McDonough from 1984 to 1989 while also serving on the Medical/Legal Committee of the Utah State Bar Association and the Board of Directors of the American Cancer Society in Utah. In addition, he was involved with education of both doctors and lawyers, lecturing to medical continuing education groups and teaching at the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University. His practice with the firm included the medical and health care aspects of the law.
From 1989 to 1990, Dixon was Assistant Vice President and Legal Counsel for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Utah. The next three years he worked as Counsel for GTE Health Systems Incorporated before being appointed as Deputy Insurance Commissioner of Utah from 1993 until 1996, and he served as Acting Insurance Commissioner in 1997.
His influence extended to education, with roles as an Associate Professor at Westminster College of Salt Lake and an Adjunct Professor of Law at Brigham Young University.
Dixon wanted to be a pilot, but in those days, you had to have perfect vision, not corrected vision, to fly in the Air Force or commercially, so instead he went to medical school. Nevertheless, eventually he did take lessons and learned to fly. One day he came home and told Carol that he had bought an airplane. She said, "We didn't even have furniture and he informed me that he bought an airplane!" It was a twin-engine Comanche, in which he had one-third ownership. While in law school, he taught flying lessons as a certified flight and instrument instructor.
Dixon was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he and Carol have lived in the same house since May 1982 in the Sherwood Hills Ward, previously the Edgemont 15th Ward. Dixon has served as Sunday School President and Ward Clerk. His favorite work in the church was genealogy, and he devoted thousands of hours to this endeavor, continuing to avidly work on genealogy until nearly the end of his life. Dixon enjoyed singing with a quintet of childhood friends for over 40 years, and he enjoyed camping with his family and friends.
On March 8, 1997, Dixon suffered a hemorrhagic stroke. The stroke affected the speech centers of his brain and the right side of his body was paralyzed. Dixon has said that he had to learn to walk multiple times in his life: when he was a baby; at the age of three, when he broke both of his legs; at the age of forty-nine following the stroke; and again at 69 following a fall.
Dixon is survived by his devoted wife, Carol Lyn, and their children, David (Michele), Sarah (Richard) Robbins , Jeffrey (Emily), and Megan (Blake) Thomas , as well as 11 grandchildren. Also survived by siblings: Julia (Ray) Squires, Rochester, MN; Marty Larkin, Cedar City, UT; Jim (Christine) Larkin, Ogden, UT; Bill (Sharon) Larkin, Fruit Heights, UT, and Jane (Ted) Thurston, Escondido, CA.
Funeral services will take place on Saturday, November 18, at the Sherwood Hills Ward, located at 345 E 4525 N St, Provo, UT 84604. Visitation will be from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, with the funeral service beginning at 1:00 pm. Interment will follow at Eastlawn Memorial in Provo.
The family wishes to express thanks for the many acts of service that we have received over the years, including meals, yardwork, shoveling snow, rides, gifts, visits, and so much support from family, neighbors, medical providers, and friends. Special thanks to his hospice nurse Kristie, who displayed great kindness to Dix and his family in the final months of his life. The family also wishes to thank members of the Edgemont 15th Ward/Sherwood Hills Ward for their many years of support to Dixon and his family.
I never knew Dix but my grandma Julia would speak so highly of him it felt like I did. Even after his stroke and he couldn’t speak he was still so kind and loving. He will be remembered in our hearts.
Sorry for your loss. Im sure this will leave a huge hole in your family.
We remember him with thought of kindness and perseverance. it was always nice to see both of you at family gatherings. Our thoughts and prayers are being sent your way.
Love, Kathleen and Chuck
I've known Dixon for all of my life and his passing seems more like a family member than a friend.
(1) He was always the one of the brightest kids in the class and the whole school. At Mount Ogden Junior High, he and I played trombone in the school band - (he was always first chair). In our senior year at Ogden High, both of us switched to the Accapella choir. That year we also started singing in a male singing group. Because there were five of us, we called ourselves The Quintet. The friendships from The Quintet lasted a lifetime.
(2) In our freshman year at Weber State, Dixon and I joined the LDS Institute Male Chorus. We took a memorable trip with the Male Chorus to Northern Calif. Dixon and I were roommates on the trip. We made lifetime friends with other choir members.
(3) During that freshman year I saw firsthand how brilliant Dixon was. We took chemistry and math classes together that year. In our second quarter that year, Dixon and I both did poorly on the first chemistry test of the quarter. Dixon was intent on doing well because medical school was his goal. We visited the professor (Garth Welch) to be sure that we could still do well in the class. Dr.Welch's comment was memorable. - "We believe in the Principle of Repentance at Weber State. If you do what I know you can, you will be fine." Dixon got at least a B grade. (Maybe it was an A.) While we were studying for the final chemistry exam that quarter, Dixon knew he was ready. The BYU basketball team was playing for the NIT Championship (When the NIT was a 'big deal') "C'mon Hippo (my nickname) - If we don't know this stuff now, we'll never know it. Let's catch the second half of BYUs game," We went home and watched the game together and BYU won! We had our priorities straight thanks to Dixon.
(4) While Dixon was practicing medicine in Wisconsin, my wife and I lived in Rochester New York. Dixon and Carol flew a small plane from Wisc. to Rochester. From there Dion flew my wife Sharyn and me across Lake Ontario to Toronto Canada. We saw some sights and then we ate at a Chinese restaurant . The menu was in Chinese and none of the servers spoke English, but the servers pointed at pictures of suggested menu items. We enjoyed the best Chinese food we have ever eaten.
(4) During that trip, both Dixon and I discussed career changes we both were considering. Dixon had been a professional witness in several medical malpractice trials. He confided that he was considering going to law school. His sympathy in the malpractice trials was with the physicians who were defendants. Within a year or two we both changed our careers - Dixon enrolled in Law School at BYU and I returned to our family dry cleaning business in Ogden.
(5) My wife Sharyn's dad, Rod Kimball, was the athletic trainer at BYU for decades. - Sharyn 'bleeds blue and white'! So even though I graduated from Weber State, I became a loyal BYU football fan. Sharyn and I had season tickets to BYU football games for years. Dixon and Carol also had BYU season tickets. Dix and were loyal BYU fans. The other three members of The Quintet were Utah fans. (Dix and I were Ute fans as well unless they were playing against BYU).
(6) I can't express how sorry I have been because of Dixon's health challenges. I so admire the care given to Dixon by Carol as well as the rest of your family. I believe Dixon has enjoyed a close family relationship during his long illness. Your family is an example to all of us.
(7) I regret not being able to attend the services. My heart failure condition got worse after Covid. Today (11/18/2023) I have some digestive issues and my stamina today is not very good. I will be watching the services from home.
Best wishes from Allen and Sharyn Hampton
Larkin Family,
I enjoyed the Zoom broadcast of Dixon's funeral and the special remembrances of him. Growing up, I did not have as much contact with Dixon as a did with the other grandchildren who were more my age. One memory does stands out. I remember Grandpa Dick having all of the grandsons up to Logan to move rocks on some property he owned there. I remember Grandpa Dick paying us (not sure why he paid us), but he paid Dixon more because Dixon was older and able to get more done than the rest of us.
Again, I enjoyed your comments and shared memories. May they continue to comfort you in the days ahead.
Steve & Val Dixon
It was my honor and privilege to be a classmate in medical school and a next-door neighbor to Dix and Carrol Larkin. Sad to know that he’s not with us. I enjoyed him as a good friend. Best wishes, Carol.