Carroll Dixon

Carroll Lucille Dixon was born on April, 27th 1922 in Detroit, Michigan to parents Clara (Lell) and Lawrence Dick. She moved with her family to Dumont, New Jersey in 1932 where she attended school and graduated from Dumont High School in 1940. There she met Lincoln Dixon of Dumont. Carroll worked in New York City for Harper & Row until she married Lincoln in 1945.

In 1956, the young couple and their three daughters moved to the Saranac Lake area. They bought the farm outside of Bloomingdale, where the family raised Black Angus cattle, a few milk cows, and several horses. Carroll went from city girl to farm wife overnight. She taught herself how to make butter and cheese, and preserved all the vegetables from her husband’s large and abundant gardens. She enjoyed gardening and kept beautiful flowerbeds around the home. She became a Brownie Girl Scout leader while her daughters were young.

Carroll loved learning new things, and enjoyed taking her children to the local bookmobile, where she often signed out how-to books. She joined Home Bureau, and also attended seminars from Cornell Cooperative Extension. Additionally, Carroll signed up for various adult education classes at Saranac Lake High School, including auto mechanics, furniture refinishing, and upholstering. Later on, she attended Paul Smith’s College, taking bookkeeping and accounting courses so that she could set up and keep the books for WIRD Radio Station, which Lincoln built, owned and operated. She also kept the books for other family businesses, including the farm.

Mrs. Dixon became a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Saranac Lake in the early 1970’s. She was very active in the United Presbyterian Women for the remainder of her church life. She was a secretary, Deacon, Elder, and acted as Clerk of Session for many years, helping to keep the church running smoothly.

Carroll’s favorite hobby was sewing, and there was one whole room in their large home dedicated to that and other crafts, such as knitting and crocheting; woodworking and woodburning; and embroidery, to name a few. She made clothes for herself, her children and grandchildren. She also made curtains, tablecloths, and furniture slipcovers for the home. She and Link lived in Hawaii for several years; while there, she made him a whole wardrobe of Hawaiian shirts, and took up quilting, as well.

Traveling was also a passion of Carroll and Link’s. They spent vacations in the Virgin Islands, around the U.S. and in Canada. After Link’s passing, Carroll took trips to New Zealand, Fiji and Australia. She continued to travel around the U.S. and Canada, visiting family and friends; and touring many national parks and other places of interest with her daughters and grandchildren until late into her 80’s.

Carroll was predeceased by her parents; her loving husband; sister Doris Drexler; sons-in-law Douglas Muldoon and Gary Sheffield; and grandson Shane Sheffield. She is survived by her daughters April Dixon of Lake Placid, Robin Muldoon and Dawne Pietras (John) of Saranac Lake. She will remain the cherished grandma “D-D” to her grandchildren Heidi Raihofer, Cherise Bixler, James Muldoon, Chenelle Palyswiat, and Chelley Pietras; and great grandchildren Coral Palyswiat and Paxton Bixler.

Mrs. Dixon passed away peacefully in her home at the age of 98, surrounded by family, on January 12th of this year, missing her 99th birthday by just a few short months. A memorial service is being held at the First Presbyterian Church of Saranac Lake on Monday, May 17th at 11am, followed by a graveside service at Pine Ridge Cemetery in Saranac Lake. Family and friends attending in person calling hours and funeral services are asked to please follow all COVID-19 recommendations including social distancing and wearing a mask. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Saranac Lake Volunteer Rescue Squad, the Saranac Lake Public Library, or the Tri Lakes Humane Society.