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Preston Dixon

1949 - 2025

Preston Dixon Obituary

Preston Elmer Dixon Jr of Ellis, Idaho, born on October 16, 1949, in Mansfield, Louisiana to Preston Dixon Jr and Mary Lilene Ricks- Dixon, passed away peacefully January 19th, 2025.

Preston graduated from Mansfield High School and attended Northwestern University and Colorado State University. He worked summers on hay crews in Nebraska which is where he discovered his passion for ranching. He graduated CSU and, after working on ranches in several states, moved to Idaho, where the Pahsimeroi valley would become his lifelong home.

He made his passion for ranching into his career, purchasing and running the Keppner ranch for many years with his ex-wife Nadine. He loved his horses, cows, dogs, and everything to do with ranching, often building his own tools from scrap rather than purchasing new ones and keeping workhorse tractors running far past their expiration dates. Once the consequences of a serious spinal cord injury caught up to him, he became a real estate broker and successfully brokered many ranch purchases in the area. He eventually retired and spent years exploring and fishing most of the west of the country.

He was proud of his children and always made time to spend with them, from horse rides with Leah to yearly road trips with Cameron. Preston adored time with his grandchildren Lillian and Parker. The 3 of them would ride horses and 4-wheelers, go shooting and tubing, and spend hours reading books.

Throughout his life as a son, brother, student, rancher, broker, husband, father, and grandfather, Preston always lived life his own way, without compromise, and this is what he will be most remembered for.

He is preceded in death by his older brother James Hamilton, older sister Tricia, and his mother and father. He is survived by his son Cameron Dixon (Aaron) and Leah Pallat (Jeff) and his two grandchildren, Parker and Lillian.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Challis Messenger from Jan. 30 to Jan. 28, 2025.

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Kay Enloe Washnock

February 21, 2025

Preston and I grew up together in Mansfield, Louisiana. We were next door neighbors. I am so shocked to learn of his death. He and I communicated from time to time mostly by text. Preston had contacted me in late September 2024 when my city, Valdosta, Georgia, took a direct hit from Hurricane Helene.
Then I had texted him on his birthday on Oct. 16, 2024, and he had texted me back. The Dixon family was my second family. My father died when I was 10 years old, and Mr. P. E. became like a dad to me. Of course, Mrs. Mary was my second mother. Tricia was my best friend. James Hamilton and I talked often until his death in 2018. All of you have my deepest sympathy. I will miss Preston so much although we lived a great distance from each other.

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