Obit.Rogers,OK-DIXON, Othel Thomas ================================================================== USGenWeb NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free Information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ================================================================== Submitted by: Shelley Lynch on 31Oct2007 Published October 31, 2007 Muskogee Phoenix Reverend Othel Thomas "O.T." Dixon entered eternal life on Friday, October 27, 2007 in Claremore, Oklahoma. He entered this life on Saturday, June 22, 1919 in Hector, Arkansas to T.H. and Mary Jane White Dixon. O.T. moved with his family to Hitchita, OK at the age of 9. He was the first Dixon to achieve outstanding All Star Basketball Player status. He graduated from Checotah High School in 1940. He moved to Oklahoma City working as a clerk at the Veterans Administration. O.T. moved to Enid where he went to work at Vance Air Force Base as Personnel Director for the Army Air Corp. He moved back to Checotah where he met, fell in love and later married Margaret Jernigan on Sunday, November 1, 1942 in Oklahoma City, OK. He was discharged from the Army Air Corp. in San Antonio, Texas. They moved to Arkansas where he attended John Brown University then College of the Ozarks where he obtained a degree in Education in 1952. He pastored several Free Will Baptist Churches and built new buildings for the churches. He was ordained in May 1948 having served as pastor and evangelist for 59 years. Throughout his preaching career, he held many revivals throughout the United States. In the 1950's he published a book of sermons called, Meetin’ Time In The Ozarks. He began a radio ministry while pastoring churches in Arkansas and Missouri. New buildings of worship were built during his pastorate at Charleston, AR, Russellville, AR, Mountain Grove, MO, Springfield, MO, and Norman, OK. Additionally, he held revivals throughout the United States from the 1950s to the 1980s. Margaret, his adored wife, directed the youth and choir programs at every church they pastored. In the late 1960's he obtained a Masters Degree in Counseling from Oklahoma City University. In 1976 he became the chaplain of the Oklahoma City Department of Corrections where he developed the Chaplaincy Program. They retired in 1992. O.T.'s hobbies was preaching The Word of God, golf and was a lover of all sports. He was a member of the First Free Will Baptist Church of Checotah. He is preceded in death by his Parents; Sisters, Artie LeMasters, Edith Hackowitz, Fern Caskey, Ollie Kendall and Jo Graham; Brothers, Chester and Virgil Dixon. He is loving survived by his wife of 64 years, Margaret of the home; Daughter, Lynda Dee Dixon and her husband, Charles (Chick) Stuhlman of Bowling Green, Ohio; Grandchildren, Ryan Dixon Glenn and his wife Stephanie of Oklahoma City, OK., Margaret Lea Bilinski and her husband Steve of Ogden, Utah; Great-grandchildren, Peyton and Allie Glenn, Nathan, Kaityln and Blake Bilinski; Sister, Lodema Vaughn and her husband Louis; Brothers, J.R. Dixon and wife Maxine, Truman Dixon and wife Colleen, Leon Dixon and wife Barbara, and a host of neices and nephews and other endearing friends. The family will greet friends 6-8 PM, Wednesday, October 31, 2007 at Garrett-Smith Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held 10:00 AM Thursday, November 1, 2007 at First Free Will Baptist Church of Checotah with Dr. Edwin Wade, Reverend D.Vann Washington, and O.T.’s nephew Lamar Kendall officiating. Committal prayers and interment will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery Truman Dixon, Leon Dixon, Lloyd Jernigan, Randy Dixon and Ryan Glenn serving as Casket bearers. Honorary Casket bearers are J. R. Dixon, Jim Wydeman, Drew Dixon, Justin Dixon, Jay Thomas, Jason, Richard Graham, Bob Caskey, John Humphrey and Dr. Maurice Payne. The family of O.T. Dixon entrusted his care and services to John and Kim Garrett of Garrett-Smith Funeral Home, 311 S.W. Second Street, Checotah, OK 74426 (918) 473-2244.