William Joseph (Joe) Dixon

John Dee Dixon and Floice Juanita Caudle Dixon felt the Lord blessing them when William Joseph (Joe) Dixon arrived on October 28,1934. He was born in the Brandenberg home. He was later known as brother Joe, Uncle Joe, dad, Pa (Nick Risley gave him this name) and Great Pa! God called Joe home on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at BSA Hospital in Amarillo Texas with Fred and Jody by his side.

Joe was raised 6 miles south of Campo, Colorado on the homestead that his father and Grandmother May Belle Roark Dixon homesteaded in 1915, coming from Graham Texas when John's father passed away. The ranch was honored with receiving the Centennial Ranch in 2015.

5 little sisters were to follow Doris (Sis), Shirley, Kathy, Janet, Cleo, Jeanie. He tormented his sisters all their lives, but anyone who knew Joe, knew him as a tease! He loved to pull pranks, tease and would take a good prank also! Joe received Christ as his personal savior at age 12, he was Baptized in the old Baptist Church in Campo (it sat across from the present school) at age 12.

Joe graduated Campo High School in 1952. While in high school Joe wanted to "drive a fast plane!" so he joined the United States Air Force. So off to boot camp he went, such a happy young lad, living his dream, until he could not pass his physical as he had asthma, so his short lived dream of 5 days was over, home he came.

He attended the School of Mines in Ft. Collins Colorado to study Pre-Vet. But that was short lived as his dad became sick and he was needed at home on the Dairy.

Joe met Lola Mae Prough and they were married November 15, 1955 in Clayton New Mexico. They made their home in in Beuna Vista Colorado while Joe worked in the mines. It was a dangerous job but Joe enjoyed it. His brother in law, Vernon Prough, worked there also. Lola and Gladys Prough, each had a son and enjoyed many fun times living close together. Joe and Lola then moved back to the ranch/dairy on the

home place and continued to make their home and raise their family. Joe never moved from the home place again, until he had to move in with his daughter Jody and husband Fred. He enjoyed his time there as he was able to get to doctors easier, good home cooking, and he was able to see Daisy and Madisyn, Nick, Cassie, McCrae and Gunner who he enjoyed so much. Jody spent many days at auctions with him so he could visit his friends. Joe and Lola worked in the family Dairy until it closed in 1966, "We had a nice dairy", Joe stated many times. Joe then worked for Ed Tapp, moonlighted for the Boise City farmers Coop, cleaned feedlots, ran the rock crusher east of Campo, Colorado, managed the cement plant in Boise City, OK. Nights and weekends he helped his dad with the cattle. Joe was a jack of all trades and people came from far and near to have Joe work on items for them. Ute Valley Iron Works, as his business was known will be missed very much. His shop had a little bit of everything in it, wood work, machine shop, welding shop, black smith shop, mechanic shop, the main attraction was rebuilding windmill heads, the list can go on. There was not a project that he would not attempt and usually got it done. In his prime he was an excellent welder. In his later years when he could no longer do the heavy hard work, he began making yard art with his imagination. He loved to surprise people with his homemade items. After Lola's death, he decided to build his own coffin so Jody drove him to several places picking up wood, piano hinges etc. to build his casket. He designed and built it in his shop in 2019. It is the last project he was able to complete.

Joe loved to attend auctions and bought many great items one being a Mayrath tractor which he gave to his grandson Nick Risley, it has been totally restored. Joe attended his last auction on March 3 in Springfield and was able to visit quite a few friends. One of his greatest memories was being parade Marshal for Baca County Fair August 3, 2019. riding shotgun in his daughter and son in law's Vis a'Vis wedding carriage, his grandson Nick drove Max the Belgium horse and his little Great Granddaughter Kitson McCrae Risley rode the whole time between his

legs, smiling and waving to everyone. In attendance were two of his sisters, Janet and Jeanie from Ulysses, KS and his three children and spouses, and grandchildren. Joe and Lola were Campo Parade marshals in 2014.

A story he loved to tell was at Thanksgiving in 2020, he was celebrating Thanksgiving with Fred & Jody, Nick and Cassie in the venue building at the museum and McCrae at only 2 years old went to the front, stood on a pew behind the podium and stated "Let me tell you about Jesus!" we all paid attention as she began to tell about Jesus! Jody went and turned the microphone on, McCrae said, Let us pray, let us in a prayer with AMEN. Her great Pa did not raise his head and she said several times, each getting louder "PA! wake up I am talking.!" Then she sang several songs with the microphone never missing a beat, tune nor word. Joe always thought that was the neatest!

Joe loved to hunt be it Elk, deer, coyotes or prairie dogs, he even hunted skunks, porcupine, racoons, rabbits or other pests. But he never got around to fishing. His grandson Nick is his favorite hunting buddy and has inherited his "love for the land, a good horse, and accurate rifle, and a straight, tight fence." Nick spent many summer days at the ranch, learning to drive stick shift, building fence, traveling to auctions and just hanging out with his Pa.

Joe loved to travel visiting family and friends in Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas and New Mexico. He and Lola traveled to Arizona and places in Colorado. He made sure his mother was able to see the Rocky mountains by taking her to family reunion at Grand Junction, Colorado then he made arrangements for his mother to attend a family reunion near Trinidad, CO while she was in the care home in Ulysses, KS. Floice was taken to the reunion in the van with driver and a nurse, Joe was always helping someone. In 2018 Jody drove Joe and Lola to Yellowstone, they traveled into Utah, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana leaving from Colorado. That was a lifetime dream trip and Jody was so fortunate to help them both achieve this dream. Jody

drove Joe to doctor appointments, auctions and many family gatherings as she drove she learned so much about her dad and his growing up years, Jody will cherish the memories and stories forever. Jody was able to travel to Montana to see the area where Jack was killed. He was so glad to see the photos of the cross placed by the state of Montana, He was telling the nurses about Jody seeing the area until he was no longer able to talk

Joe is preceded in death by his wife, Lola, of 63 years, two sons, Jimmy and Jackie, parents John and Floice Dixon three sisters, Doris Kathy, Cleo. Plus many more friends and relatives.

Joe is survived by his children Johnie Campo, Jody and husband Fred Risley, Jessie and wife Barbara of Boise City. Sisters Shirley and husband Delbert Williams of Emporia, KS, Jeanie Dixon, Janet and husband Darrell Damon of Ulysses Ks, Brother in Law Vernon Miller from Hershey NE. One Aunt, Joanne and husband Bob Meade of Tucumcari, NM. 5 Grandchildren, Nick and Cassie Risley, Lone Wolf, OK Renee Griggatt Springfield, CO, Daisy Farr, Garden City, KS Brady Dixon Oklahoma City, OK, Chasity Carson, Springfield, CO. 11 great grandchildren 3 foster ones. Special little friend Devorah Tapp who he enjoys so much. Many nieces and nephews, many, many friends.

December 19, 2023 Nick and Cassie had his last Great Grand child Chet William Risley. He is so proud of Chet William he said Chet is one of his favorite names and William is after him. He truly enjoys McCrae, Gunner and Chet coming to visit and he love to hear the stories of them and their little antics and what they say! If Madisyn is there at the same time, what a wonderful day Joe has.

One of the special nurses that takes wonderful care of him is Phay. She is a true godsend. Such a lovely woman and Joe really enjoyed her and Dora who also took wonderful care of Lola. He is missed by all the staff and volunteers at Coon Memorial Home.

Services will be at 10:00AM Mountain Time at the Campo Cemetery East Of Campo, Colorado