Dixie Carlson

Dixie Lee (Lovell) Carlson, 78, of Berthoud, CO, formerly of Des Moines, IA, died unexpectedly on Monday October 4th, 2021.

Dixie was born in 1943 in Des Moines, Iowa, the daughter of Melvin and Virginia Lovell. The family was joined one year later by brother Don. She graduated from Des Moines East High School in January 1961. On December 21, 1963 she married her long time sweetheart, Bill Carlson.

Dixie had a long career in the telecommunications industry with Northwestern Bell and eventually retired from Qwest Communication as a Customer Service Manager. After retirement she enjoyed travelling with her husband and spending more time with her family and friends. She had many groups of friends and met with them often, including a Bridge group and the “Wine and Whiners.” Dixie was a proud member of the EHS class of ‘61 and belonged to the Reunionettes, a group of friends from high school who meet regularly to this day. She valued her friendships dearly and had many great stories to share with her family about their adventures.

Dixie loved to play cards of all types, from her bridge club ladies to her weekly card games with her cousins, and even Go Fish with her granddaughter. Dixie loved puzzles too, and always had one in process.

Sports were also a passion of Dixie’s, both local and professional. She attended hundreds of school games, whether cheering on her husband coaching football or her children playing on a variety of teams throughout their high school and college years. She was an avid Iowa Hawkeyes fan, both football and basketball. Dixie enjoyed watching “The Wave”, which happened at the end of the first quarter of the Iowa home football games. She even became a Rockies fan after moving to Colorado to live with her daughter Shannon.

Dixie deeply loved all her family, and the feeling was mutual. She especially adored her beloved granddaughter Willa, who misses her Meemaw so much.

She is survived by son Joel (Darcy) Carlson, and granddaughter Willa, of Windsor, WI, daughter Shannon Carlson of Berthoud, CO, brother Don (MaryAnn) Lovell of LeGrand, IA, brother-in-law Larry Letz (Wilma) of Des Moines, many cousins, nieces and nephews as well as numerous friends.

Services will be held on Sunday, November 14, 2021 at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines. Funeral service will begin at 1pm with an hour long visitation just prior to the service. Please wear a splash of Hawkeye Black & Gold as a tribute to Dixie. Masks will be absolutely mandatory during visitation and service. Burial will take place on Monday, November 15, at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Des Moines.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: East High Capital Campaign ? EHS Alumni Foundation, P. O. Box 696, Des Moines, Iowa 50303.

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