PATRICIA L. "PAT" DIXON

Patricia Lea Dixon was born on October 9th, 1960 and passed away on August 24, 2024. A celebration of life service will be held on 2:00 pm Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024 at Kingman Methodist Church in Kingman, Kansas.  The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024 also at the Church.

Pat was born in Naha, Okinawa, Japan to Robert and Yukiko Berkheimer. When she was one year old the family lived briefly in Miller, Nebraska before settling in Oberlin, Kansas. Pat was passionate about music theater and was cast as the lead in many high school productions. Despite being an impeccable singer, she often accompanied others as she was also a very talented pianist. While in high school she received high achievement marks in piano, served as the drum major and was the class salutatorian. After graduating from High School in 1978, Pat studied music education at Wichita State University where she met Lance Dixon, also a collegiate. The two were married in 1981 and lived for two years in Wichita before moving to Kingman, Kansas in 1983.

For seventeen years, Pat served her family as a stay-at-home mom to children Tyler, Ben, and Anna. Spending time with her kids was one of the greatest joys of Pat's life. From 1983-2023 Pat served as the Music Director at Kingman Methodist Church where she directed the children's choir, the Chancel choir, and numerous other community choirs. Pat taught music at Kingman Elementary School. During this twenty-three year tenure she was honored to direct numerous students to state honor choir, as well as choirs that regularly received high markings in competition.

As an adult, Pat was part of a musical trio. She, Gayle Hamblin, and Cindy Baker provided beautiful musical entertainment for many local groups and even recorded a CD. Pat looked forward to time spent with those closest to her. She and Lance loved to travel and did so often. The family cabin in Green Mountain Falls, Colorado was her favorite place to visit. Pat also cherished spending time with her grandchildren and enjoyed seeing them as often as she could.

She was preceded in death by her father, Bob Berkheimer, in-laws, Gloyd and Lyna Dixon, and sister-in-law, Teri Harpool.

Survivors include: her husband, Lance, her son, Tyler, of Kansas City, Missouri; her son, Ben and

wife, Elizabeth of Grand Rapids, Michigan; her daughter, Anna, of Wichita, Kansas; grandchildren, Emersyn and Brady; Also surviving, her mother, Yukiko Berkheimer, of Oberlin, Kansas, her brother, Jim Berkheimer, and wife, Heather, of Rapid City, South Dakota; her brother, Tom Berkheimer and wife, Melissa, of Urbandale, Iowa; along with multiple nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

A memorial honoring Pat has been established with the Kingman Methodist Church.