Dix K Waddell
Dix K Waddell
May 26, 1933 ~ January 24, 2024
Dix K Waddell, 90, son of D. Keith and LaRena Waddell, died peacefully on January 24, 2024, at the Grove Creek Assisted Living Facility in Lindon, Utah. Mary Jean, his wife of 70 years, said, “When Dix heard Elder Rasband’s plea for more senior missionaries in the October General Conference, he said, “I want to go.” In November he began to feel severe pain in his lower back, which he learned was caused by swollen lymph glands and he gradually weakened until he received his new calling.
Dix was born in Alta, Wyoming, on the Idaho side of the Teton Peaks on May 26, 1933, the oldest of nine children where they all learned to work hard on their farm but always had music provided by their talented mother and Church on Sundays.
After attending Elementary School in Alta, Dix rode the bus to Teton High School in Driggs, Idaho, and graduated after enjoying playing the clarinet, singing, and writing for the paper and a creative writing class. He then attended Ricks College on a scholarship he earned from winning a news article contest.
Dix decided to transfer to BYU when his favorite English teacher took a job there. Dix worked his way through college planning to be a college professor until he was offered a job selling insurance after he graduated and enjoyed meeting people with all kinds of occupations so much, he got his CLU instead. In 2003 he was awarded the Life Achievement award in Salt Lake City for his work in the insurance industry. He also became a real estate broker. He enjoyed coaching Dee’s soccer games and continued to referee with Dee. Then Dix became an assignor and national assessor (NISOA) enough to be awarded the Soccer Exemplary Award in 2002.
Dix and Mary Jean had been friends for years through music and writing so by the time they were both at BYU, they knew they were meant to spend the rest of their lives together and got married in the Idaho Falls Temple when missionaries could not serve during the Korean War. When missionaries could again be called after 9 months, Dix served a mission to the British Isles. After he returned, he and Mary Jean were called to serve a stake mission and then Dix served as a young stake mission president. After serving in many bishoprics, he and Mary Jean were called to serve another stake mission and then an inner-city mission in downtown Salt Lake City. After that, they served in the Salt Lake, Houston, and Timpanogos Temples. In 2021 Mary Jean published a book on Dix that is now available in the Church Archives.
Dix was always involved with music, and his last calling was conducting the music for Sacrament Meeting in the Lindon 24th Branch at Grove Creek Assisted Living Facility at 175 No. State Street in Lindon, Utah 84042 where a memorial service will be held on January 27 at 1:00 p.m. He will later be buried in his Alta Cemetery a few miles from the place where he grew up. He loved flowers, but they would not be practical at this time. He would be pleased to have you do a good turn for someone.
Dix is survived by Mary Jean Murdock Waddell and their daughter Cate (Craig Cook) and son Dee Keith (Noriko). Their son Dix Kell died 12 years ago after spending 43 years in a wheelchair and is waiting for his Dad with his wife Michelle. Loving grandchildren are Cate’s children: Emily (Kyle Freimuth) with Bailey, Maddox, and Wade; Lauren Cruff with Carlin and Amelia; Nick and Madison Uehara. Dee’s children are: Dee Kei (Kayoko) with Kaname and Kyo; Ashley (James Otani) with Sofie and Sasha; Danny Kent (Mako) with Luther, and Chelsea. Dix also has many loving extended family members of both Waddells and Murdocks and special friends.