Raymond (R.) Johns Dixon, 84, of Mechanicsville, MD died February 25, 2007 in St. Mary's Nursing Center, Leonardtown, MD of complications from Parkinson's disease.

Born April 28, 1922 in Sandgates, MD, he was the oldest of three sons of the late Raymond T. and Mary S. Fish Dixon. He was a life long resident of St. Mary's County. He graduated from Margrent Brent High School and continued working on the family tobacco farm on the Patuxent River. At age 16, he purchased 18 acres of land from his grandmother, Lydia Dixon, which contained a small knoll known as Lightening Hill. Variable seasonal crop income was supplemented as a school bus owner/operator for the St. Mary's County Board of Education for many years, taking over the position from his father, who was the second school bus contractor in the County.

Mr. Dixon was active in many civic and farming organizations, often occupying positions of leadership. He particularly enjoyed explaining about the year-round work-cycle of the tobacco crop. These included Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, Laurel Grove, where he served on the Board of Trustees, Treasurer, and assisted in many church functions. He was a sixty-plus years member of the St. Mary's County Farm Bureau, including the Board of Dircetors, 50 years, and President, 7 years. Maryland Farm Bureau, Vice-president two years; St. Mary's Soil Conservation District, supervisor, 1957-1973, and in 1998 was honored for outstanding accomplishment in the conservation of soil and water resources; St. Mary's ASCS Committee 9 years, chairman, 7 years; St. Mary's Agriculture & Seafood Committee, Vice-president 4 years; Southern MD Agricultural Commission, appointed chairman; Southern MD Tobacco Board, which he helped to create as a separate entity of the Tobacco Committee of the Southern MD Agricultural Commission. In 1991, Dixon was selected as part of a delegation to Europe to promote the export of local tobacco to Belguim, Germany, France, and Italy. He was a member of the MD State Tobacco Authority; St. Mary's Planning & Zoning Commission, Agriculture Representative, 14 years, Vice President 6 years; St. Mary's Economic Development Commission, Agricultural Representative, 5 years. In 1997 the Dixon farm, located on Sandgates Road, less than a mile from where he was born, was recognized by Governor Parris Glendening as a Maryland Century Farm that has been in the same family at least 100 years.

He married Winifred Cornthwaite on November 15, 1947 in Cedar Rapids, IA, after she returned to St. Mary's County from assisting in Hawaii as a Registered Nurse.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Winifred C. Dixon, six children; Thomas E. Dixon and his wife, Kathleen of Mechanicsville, MD, Charlene M. Dixon Hutcheson and her husband, Robert of Roanoke, VA, Fredric J. Dixon and his wife, Marilyn of Arbutus, MD, Janet L. Dixon of Silver Spring, MD, Raymond A. Dixon of Mechanicsville, MD, James D. Dixon and his wife, Lorraine of Mechanicsville, MD, thirteen grandchildren; Susan Dixon-Lavergne, Michael Dixon, Lynne Dixon, Gregory Hutcheson, Julia Hutcheson, Rabi Dixon, Deva Dixon, Katherine Dixon, Elizabeth Dixon, Jennifer Dixon, Dalton Dixon, Devon Dixon, Amelia Dixon, two great-grandchildren, William Dixon-Lavergne and William Hutcheson, and devoted brother, Robert S. Dixon of Leonardtown, MD. He will be sadly missed by other in-laws, nieces, nephews, friends, and neighbors.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brother, William F. (Bill) Dixon and sisters-in-law, Rene Abell Dixon, Bernice Cornthwaite, and Patricia Gragon Dixon.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 from 4- 7:00 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home Chapel, Leonardtown, MD. A Christian Funeral Service will be conducted on Thursday, March 1, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. in Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, Laurel Grove, MD. Reverend Phil Ayers will conduct the service. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1060, Mechanicsville, MD 20659, Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 79, Hollywood, MD 20636, or National Parkinson Foundation, Inc., 1501 N.W. 9th Avenue, Miami, FL 33136.