Dixie Welch

Dixie Ann Jones Welch, age 90, of Mapleton, Utah finished her final lap on Earth on January 26, 2024. She loved to race her children and grandchildren and is now racing to meet and greet those who went before her. Dixie was preceded in death by her loving parents, F. Alvin and Ruth Jones, her sister Barbara, baby brother Lester, great-granddaughter Makayla, and her devoted husband, Arthur. She is also being welcomed by all those ancestors she relentlessly told stories about to her children and grandchildren. As a Utah Daughters of Pioneers member and Utah Sons of Pioneers, she will recognize those she researched and talked about so much.
Born on February 26, 1933, Dixie sprinted into the world giving her parents only an hour and a half warning -- beating the doctor to the delivery room. She enjoyed a childhood filled with love and laughter in her home with her parents, two brothers, and two sisters.
She raced to complete her bachelor's degree in speech therapy and deaf studies at Brigham Young University. She then decided to make one more lap around to earn her MRS degree when she found her eternal sweetheart, Arthur Welch while taking an art class. They were sealed for time and all eternity in the Los Angeles Temple on December 28, 1956. She was a speech therapist and taught deaf children in California, and at the Utah School for the Deaf. She was also a newspaper writer and worked with the Parent Infant Program teaching parents how to best help their deaf-blind children to grow and develop.
Dixie and Arthur complemented each other, in their relay race – sharing strengths as they raised their eight children, Val (Turiana), Von (Karen), Jon (Diane), Julia, ("Zeke"), Nate (Jami), Camille, Mary (Kyle), and Mya (Dave), plus one Navajo daughter, Jana Leigh. They taught their children to work hard; Mom always had a to-do list for each of them. She fed them healthy foods and they loved taking their family on adventures in the pop-top camper.
Following at a steady marathon pace and guided by her testimony gained in her childhood of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Dixie lived a life of unwavering faith and commitment. She served as a nursery leader, Sunday School teacher, role-play actor at the Missionary Training Center, and gospel doctrine teacher loving each calling. Her 43 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren will be blessed by her legacy. She was a pillar of strength, inspiring them to follow their dreams and fostering in them her spirited dedication to faith, family, and country.
Her sprints with patriotism and political activism were as much a part of Dixie as her work ethic and life philosophy. A true patriot and proud member of Utah County Republican Women, she believed in the power of every individual to make a difference. She supported many in city, state, and national elections campaigning for and encouraging others to be informed voters.
Dixie's high endurance race was in caregiving! She set up a backyard preschool to care for little children while she was a teenager. Then, as she raised her eight children, she cared for each of them including through childhood illnesses or more severe ailments, and included their cousins, friends, and neighborhood children in family adventures like sledding. She diligently cared for her mother through her aging and end-of-life care. And, she cared for her husband, encouraging him to exercise and feeding him healthy food throughout his last few laps of life. Her children were blessed with the opportunity to care for her following a car accident in which the attending police officer said, "You did nothing wrong." They are so grateful for all who were her caregivers including grandchildren, Jared Wall, Rachel Wall, Ryan Wall, and Stephen and Sone Gee. The family is so grateful to Anne Mcguigan and Melissa Johnson who compassionately held up the break tape for her at the finish line.
A viewing will be held for Dixie on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at 9:00 AM MST at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 970 North 400 East, Mapleton, Utah, 84664. This will be followed by a funeral service at 11:00 AM MST at the same venue. Dixie's interment will proceed at 12:30 PM MST at the Mapleton Cemetery, 620 West Maple Street, Mapleton, Utah, 84664.
Please join us in celebrating Dixie's life by sharing your favorite memories and photos of her on the memorial page. Let us remember Dixie's life, and legacy and make sure we live so that we may meet her at that final finish line--in the arms of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.