Charles Robert Dixon
Service: 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, at First Baptist Church, Lead Hill, with interment at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Lead Hill; Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31, at Roller-Christeson Funeral Home.
Charles Robert Dixon left us far too early on Wednesday, Aug. 26 (2015) in Fayetteville. He was 30 years, one month and one day old.
He arrived kicking and screaming in this world on July 25, 1985, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The only son of Jeff and Amy Dixon, Charley was an adorable handful from the very beginning. He was named after his two grandfathers, Charles Adam Dixon and James Robert Neal, and affectionately called Charley Bob.
Charley never met a stranger and quickly charmed everyone with his great smile and his ability to make us all laugh. In his own words, he was friends with “everybody (cause I’m good-lookin’).” His family described him as too handsome and charming for his own good.
Charley lived his life his own way, and no one could ever tell him to do anything. He had an adventurous soul that took him around the world, helping people, jumping off cliffs, petting monkeys, serving in a war zone, discussing politics and making new friends. He recently traveled to Finland, Wales, Amsterdam, Istanbul and Bali before making his way back home to Lead Hill.
He served in the Army Reserves, following a proud tradition of military service by his father and grandfather. Charley earned an Iraq Campaign Medal and Campaign Star during his time in Iraq as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. He served with the 90th Sustainment Brigade and the 362nd Tactical Psychological Operations Company.
Charley loved to read, and to this day, he holds an Accelerated Reader record at Ringgold Elementary School in Clarksville, Tennessee, where he grew up. He held a number of other titles, including but not limited to Fantasy Football champion, Grand Champion of the 2015 Mario K Cup, biggest flirt and funniest guy of his 2003 Lead Hill High School class, great friend, most annoying and loveable brother, and beloved son. He was passionate about healthy living and was certified personal trainer who would push you to do a little more than you thought you could.
Charley was a registered organ donor, and thanks to his generous heart, four people have been given another chance at life. He had a compassionate heart and was always willing to help others, and he will continued to even in his death. May they carry his spirit with them wherever they go.
He is survived by his parents, Jeff and Amy Dixon, of Lead Hill; sister and brother-in-law, Jessica and Kip Kibling, of Harrison; grandparents, Charles and Della Dixon, of Lead Hill, and Jessie Neal, of Harrison; and an abundance of uncles, aunts, cousins and friends who loved him dearly.
He will join his grandfather, Bob, on a bench in heaven where they can be ornery together while they wait for us.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31, at Roller-Christeson Funeral Home in Harrison. We will celebrate his life at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, at the First Baptist Church in Lead Hill, with interment to follow at the Cedar Grove Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Kip Kibling, Chance Burleson, James Tomlinson, Dylan Honeycutt, Chris Rogers and Terry Donaho.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer gifts in Charley’s honor to the Arkansas Freedom Fund at P.O. Box 697, Bryant, AR 72089, to help Arkansas soldiers and families, or to the Arkansas Regional Organ Recovery Agency at 171 Aldersgate Road, Suite 4, Little Rock, AR 72205, to support organ donations in Arkansas.
This note was found in Charley’s belongings, and for once, his sister will let him have the last word because it is too beautiful not to:
“I’ve never been so overcome with emotion as I was tonight. I saw the stars so clearly that it felt like my heart began pumping a new blood. My eyes erupted with tears at the beauty and I smiled purdy.”
