Dixie J. Olsen

Dixie Lee Jessop Olsen, age 80, returned to her Heavenly Father and to her eternal companion, James Delbert Olsen, on Tuesday, April 15, 2014. She passed away peacefully, with her daughter Carol at her side, after complications with kidney failure.

Dixie was the 12th of 13 children born to Lester Russell Jessop and Carrie Christina Andersen, on March 21, 1934 in Logan, Utah. Dixie married her sweetheart, James Delbert Olsen, on 22 December 1966, in Manti, Utah. And they were later sealed in the Ogden, Utah LDS Temple, on 21 December 1974. James Delbert passed away in October 1995.

Dixie and Delbert were blessed with two daughters, Connie and Carol, and three sons; Gary, Kim and Kay. These five children were technically Dixie's step-sons and daughters. But in every sense of the word, "Mother", Dixie loved and nurtured them and they loved her.

The focus of Dixie's life was on her family, both Jessop's and Olsen's. Whether it was her dozen siblings, her numerous nieces, nephews or grandchildren, she loved and cared for each of them through numberless acts of service.

Dixie served many around her. She delivered meals to a number of local widows for years and would be enormously upset to read this account and know that people were aware of her many acts of kindness.

Dixie was notorious for not wanting to have her own photograph taken. But she loved looking at family photos & family histories and recalling her favorite memories of life events. Some of her favorite memories include stories of growing up with her brothers and sisters, watching Craig and Mont as youngsters, attending USU and Jazz games with Delbert, Thiel & Virginia..., going to England with Thiel, Virginia and Dortha, (through the kindness of Craig and Marilyn), her numerous family Christmas parties, her horse Buckles, her dog "Shorty", planning Christmas with Virginia and Thiel, going with Don to every possible rodeo in the area, fixing dinners for the "old man" (Delbert), watching Brett, Travis, Wade, "Tiger", Dana, Melanie, Kyle, Kimberly (The first of the grandchildren) and all of the grandchildren grow up, listening to George Strait and other favorite country artists, reading one of many books, or just going to get a diet coke with Marilyn, "Tam", or Carol.

Dixie served in her LDS Ward for many years doing "extractions", before that was known as "indexing". And for numerous years she was responsible for sending the ward relief society birthday greetings to each of the sisters in her ward.

Dixie was no stranger to hard work. Whether on the farm with Delbert, as a waitress at numerous local restaurants, as a cashier at Grand Central and other retail stores, or delivering Avon. One customer, who noticed her working at so many different places, said; "Dixie, you're like horse manure. You're just all over the place!"

Dixie is Survived by: Daughter, Carol Hodges (Bruce); Sons, Kim Olsen; and Kay Olsen (Allyson) ;and Daughter-in-law, Shiree Olsen; sister, Virginia Jensen (Thiel), and three Sisters-in-law: Maurine Jessop (Sheldon), Dortha Jessop (Don), and Geri Jessop (Calvin). Dixie was preceded in death by daughter, Connie Olsen Hall and son, Gary Olsen and all of her brothers and all but one sister and their spouses as follows: Keith and Zerea Jessop, Lucille (Jessop) and Cyril Godfrey, Carma Jessop, Afton (Jessop) and Glen Udy, Fern (Jessop) and Therwin Scott, Ione (Jessop) and Glenn Jessop, Thiel Jensen (Virginia), Sheldon Jessop (Maurine), Don Jessop (Dortha), Melvin Jessop (Infant), Richard Gary Jessop (Infant), Margene Jessop (Infant).

Funeral services, under the direction of Allen-Hall Mortuary, will be conducted a 11 AM, Friday, April 18, at the Spring Creek Ward Chapel located at 2400 West 2200 South, in College Ward. Friends and family are invited to visit with the family at a viewing at the Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 East Center Street, Logan, Thursday, April 17, from 6-8 PM, and on Friday, April 18, prior to services, from 9:45 - 10:30 AM at the Spring Creek Ward Chapel. Internment at the Logan City Cemetery, 1000 N 1200 East, Logan. Condolences and thoughts may be expressed to the family online at www.allenmortuaries.net .