Genniel Dixon

Genniel Dixon passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 24, 2015 after a long illness. She was born in Vineyard, Utah as the fourth of five children to Ariel and Vera Larsen. She was born with a clubbed foot, and her parents were told at that time that she would probably never walk. However, she received compassionate care at Shriners Hospital with the help of faithful, dedicated ward members who provided transportation once a month for five years to the hospital in Salt Lake City. After spending the first five years of her life with her right leg in a cast, she was able to walk unassisted. Genniel was an outstanding, very gifted student who was well liked by her peers. At Lincoln High School, she was an officer in the Sub Deb Club, was elected 11th grade class secretary, was president of the Tigerette Pep Club, and was elected "Popular Girl". She was given the Anderson award for outstanding seminary graduate in 1949. She and her partner won the state championship for class B schools in debate during her senior year. She received the Danforth Scholastic Award when she graduated from Lincoln High School. She was given an Elks Scholarship that she used to attend BYU where she majored in Music Theory with emphasis on piano and organ performance. She worked part-time as a proofreader for the Daily Herald. In the spring of her freshman year, she married her sweetheart and eternal companion, Robert N. Dixon in the Manti Temple. After receiving her musical education, she became a piano teacher and trained many students, leaving behind an extensive, lasting musical legacy. She was a kind but exacting teacher. She called upon memories she had from her piano teacher at BYU, George Fitzroy, whose teacher at one time was the famous pianist/composer Sergei Rachmaninoff. Genniel was active in the Utah Music Teachers' Organization. She was president of the Utah County Chapter in 1971 and 1972. Genniel had a deep, powerful testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, and has served continuously in a variety of callings since age sixteen. Genniel is revered by her family and friends for the powerful force for good that she has been in all of their lives. She is survived by her husband, Robert, her children, Steven (Emarene), Denise (Mark), Angela (Randall), and Norman(Patrick), her brother Paul (Lorna) and sister, Ruth, nine grandchildren, and fourteen great-grandchildren, All of whom will dearly miss her inspiration, example and guidance. Her funeral will take place at Sundberg-Olpin Funeral Home at 495 S. State St. Orem, UT on Saturday, February 28th at 1pm. There will be a viewing at the same location on Friday, February 27th from 6-8pm and Saturday, February 28th from 11:45am-12:45 pm.

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