Raymond E. "Ed" Dixon Jr., 66, of rural Parsons died at 8:45 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, 2009, at his home following a brief illness.

He was born April 25, 1943, in Parsons to Raymond E. Sr. and Ruth M. (Tunget) Dixon. As a young boy, he grew up in the Edna, Bartlett and Parsons areas, where he attended elementary schools and later attended Labette County Community High School in Altamont.

He worked at Swift and Co. in Parsons 1 1/2 years before becoming employed by the Katy Railroad in Parsons, and later the Union Pacific Railroad in Coffeyville, where he worked as a gandy dancer and carman. He retired from the railroad following 30 years of service. After retirement, he enjoyed working part-time at Better Built by Barnes.

He was a member of the Church of God in Parsons. He enjoyed fishing, camping, woodworking, gardening, collecting belt buckles and miniature cars. He especially enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren.

He married Ginger McGuire on Sept. 2, 1962, at First Baptist Church in Parsons. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include four sons, Eddie Dixon, James Dixon, David Dixon, all of Parsons, and Tim Dixon and his wife, Angie, of Oxford; a foster daughter, Summer Bozarth and numerous other foster children; 10 grandchildren, Jordan and Jarrett Dixon, Josh Carter, Crystle, Cami, Cira and Erica Dixon, Codie and Cyle Merchant and Tiffany Wimp; a brother, Jerry Dixon Sr. of Parsons; four sisters, Beverly Hawes and her husband, Tom, of Van Nuys, Calif., Jean Samples, Carol Colvin and Kay Pratt, all of Parsons; his in-laws, Robert and Alice Williams, Glenna Randall, Charlotte and Jack Brown, all of Parsons, Jim and Connie McGuire of St. Paul, Ronnie and Heather McGuire of Erie, Gary and Judy Mottson of Pittsburg, Ross and Carol Wilkerson of Kansas City, Kan., Bobby Williams of Kansas City, Mo., Katy and Joe Arp of Brighton, Colo., and Jerry and Amy Williams of Littleton, Colo.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond Dixon Sr. and Ruth M. Kebert; a brother-in-law, Raymond McGuire; and a sister-in-law, Lisa McGuire.

A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Parsons. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons.

Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society. These may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, 67357.