Our dear sweet mother, Dixie Lois Cook Olsen passed away one week shy of her 98th birthday on Thursday, November 28, 2013.
She was born in Huntington, Utah on December 5,1916, to William Alonzo and Mary Ann Cook.
She attended Snow College, then became a beautician and for a few years had her own beauty shop where she blossomed and met the love of her life, Earl R Olsen. They were married in the Manti Temple October 3,1939. She and Earl reared their six children in Emery, Utah where she became a profound influence in both community and church.
Her life was filled with the joy of learning and serving others. She was a coveted homemaker, had many sewing projects, very articulate quilter, as well as talented in crafts. In her later years she got really good at using the computer.
She was active in the Daughters of Utah Pioneers and she led the way in getting a monument dedicated to the Muddy Creek Pioneers. She was PTA President and very active in various organizations in her town of Emery, Utah. She held leadership positions in Young Women, Relief Society, Stake Librarian, and many other callings. She was an ordinance worker in the Manti Temple.
After their children were reared they moved to Salt Lake City. Here she again became very active in leadership positions being ordinance worker and supervisor in the Salt Lake Temple, as well as serving in the Relief Society Presidency. She was Matron of Manti Temple. Earl and Dixie went to Atlanta, Georgia to help open up the temple there and train the ordinance workers, Nigeria and Ghana International Mission where they served in the Mission Presidency when it became a mission. She served for ten years as the Relief Society President of the Church History Missionary Branch. Together, Earl and Dixie served 7 missions.
She is survived by her children, Lee Ray - deceased (Sharon), Duane (Jamie), Iris (Ken), Kenneth (Carolyn), Vern, Earlene (Wayne); as well as19 grandchildren and many great grandchildren.
Our thanks to the many who cared, with love, for her in the past few years, including the staff at Emeritus.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 2, 2013 at 10:00 am at the Ensign Stake Center, 135 "A" street. Viewings will be held on Sunday evening from 6-8 pm at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. South Temple, and at the church from 8:45-9:45 am prior to the services. Interment in the Emery, Utah City Cemetery will take place at approximately 3:30 pm.
