— Leon Benjamin Dixon, 76 year old Checotah, Oklahoma resident, entered eternal life on Monday, June 25, 2012 surrounded by loving family in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was born to T.H. and Mary Jane White Dixon on Tuesday, January 14, 1936 in Hitchita, Oklahoma. Leon moved to Checotah at an early age and attended Checotah Public Schools graduating in 1956. He attended Connors State College where he also played basketball before transferring to Northeastern State University. Leon went to work at the Post Office in Muskogee during which time he met, fell in love and married the love of his life Barbara William on Friday, June 30, 1961 in Eufaula, Oklahoma. He entered the United States Army in 1961 where he served for 2 years before he was discharged in 1963 and relocated back home to Muskogee. Leon had a passion for teaching and was blessed with a 26 year career in education including his time spent coaching for 24 years. Cities and towns fortunate to have had him in their schools include; Stidham (64-67), Bixby (67-70), Stigler (70-72) and Checotah beginning in 1972 until his retirement in 1990. This however did not slow Leon down. He went on to own and operate a Texaco gas station, sell real estate with Randy Christian and bought Frisbie’s Bait Shop.  In 1997, he and his wife moved to the lake and later moved back to Checotah in 2011. He was a lifelong member of Free Will Baptist Church where he served as a Sunday School teacher and an active Deacon for 28 years. Leon had a love for the outdoors and enjoyed fishing and golfing, but it did not compare to the love he had for his family and his grand children. He was preceded in death by his parents T.H. and Mary Jane Dixon, brothers Chester, Virgil, O.T. and Junior Dixon; sisters Ollie Kindell, Artie LeMaster, Edith Haczkiewicz, Esther Jo Graham, Lodema Vaughn and Fern Caskey. Leon is lovingly survived by his wife Barbara; his three children Tina Swayze and husband Jerry, Greg Dixon and wife Gina both of Purcell and Dru Dixon and wife Kelli of Talala; grandchildren Cole and Haylee Swayze, Jordan and Hannah Coker, Eli, Ty, Kyah and Kenly Jo Dixon; brother Truman Dixon and wife Colleen; sisters-in-law Theda, Margaret and Maxine Dixon; brothers-in-law Bob Caskey and Richard Graham. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, other extended family and a lifetime of friends.  In honoring the life of Leon, in lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in his memory to the First Free Will Baptist Church Family Life Center Building Fund 713 N. Broadway Checotah, OK 74426. Memorial services for Leon will be held 11 AM Thursday, June 28, 2012 at First Free Will Baptist Church Family Life Center with Reverend Larry Haggard and Reverend Larry Montgomery, officiating. Honorary casket bearers are all the lives he touched. Leon donated his body for medical research and burial will be held privately at a later date.

 You may share online condolences with Leon’s family @www.garrettfamilyfuneralhome.com. The family of Leon Dixon entrusted his services to John & Kim Garrett of Garrett Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service 311 SW 2nd Checotah, OK 74426 (918) 473-2244.