Thomas Dixon "Tom"

Thomas Neal Dixon was a natural leader whose winning presence allowed him to take control of various situations with ease. Equipped with a clear and calculating focus, he possessed a tough-minded, “take charge” attitude. He had the ability to make even routine situations seem exciting, and he was at ease with the role of playing problem solver. Thomas always sought out the scene of where the action was. Sociable, analytical and pleasant, Thomas was an individual who enjoyed life’s challenges.

Thomas was born on August 11, 1960 at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington D. C. His parents were Harold & Reatha Dixon. Thomas was raised in Silver Springs, Maryland. Always able to express himself well, Thomas possessed strong interpersonal skills. He was optimistic in his outlook on life and was able at all times to be open and direct in his communication. Armed with a great wit, Thomas was raised to be accepting of others and to implement a strong personal work ethic.

Blessed with a balanced attitude, Thomas was able to relate well with others. His occasional role as family mediator gave him the opportunity to ease tense situations when they occurred. Thomas was raised with 5 siblings. He had 2 brothers; Jim & rick, 2 half-brothers; Mike & Butch, and 1 half-sister Barb. Thomas had a strong desire to be treated fairly and would readily offer others the same fairness in return.

As a young child, Thomas showed his creative ability in many ways. He was outgoing and animated. Thomas enjoyed new activities and pursued a variety of interests. He took part in soccer and martial arts.

Known to others as a focused, logical, open-minded and somewhat driven individual, Thomas was able to utilize these qualities to succeed in high school. His curious nature was spurred by his ability to maximize his personal learning style through employing a hands-on approach. He was good with facts and had an excellent memory. He graduated from Cadillac High School in 1978. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was History. The teacher he enjoyed learning from the most was Jim Neff.

Friends and acquaintances found Thomas an easy man to get to know, and those close to him would often praise his open, practical style of communication and relaxed approach to life in general. Thomas was uncomplicated and straightforward in his relationships, which allowed him to accept people for what they were. While growing up, some of his best friends were Rick Jones, Al & Brenda. Later in life, he became friends with Mark, Robert, Craig & Matt.

Thomas was attentive to Angie's feelings, and he charmed Angie and others with his gift for being able to give freely and generously. A good listener with an engaging personality, Thomas was able to bring pleasure and unexpected humor to the relationship.

Very much like a kid himself, Thomas identified with the inquisitive and creative side of his children’s personalities. He was able to direct his energy and spontaneity towards helping his children acquire added common sense skills. Thomas was blessed with 2 children, two sons, Brain and Brandon.

Thomas was a flexible worker who was able to draw the best from others around him. A persuasive individual who was quick to make necessary decisions, Thomas’s strengths included being able to think on his feet. He could be a leader who sought impact for his decisions. Gifted with an incredible ability to read body language, Thomas was able to positively manipulate situations and motivate others in order to get a task completed. He was a good negotiator who enjoyed new challenges. Thomas could multi-task, and he was endowed with entrepreneurial spirit, allowing him to think beyond standard norms when it came to resolving issues in his work environment. His primary occupation was A Police Officer. He was employed for 20 years with Las Vegas Metro.

Travel and vacations were experiences that Thomas truly enjoyed. He preferred to seek out excitement wherever he went and he was partial to vacations that were casual and laid back with an atmosphere of “live and let live.” He was willing to leave his plans open and flexible, just in case something more interesting came along. Favorite vacations included going to Laguna Beach.

Thomas was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of Thomas’s favorites was Gizmo the cat, and 3 dogs Chance the Border Collie, Mimi the Jack Russell and Bandit the German Shepherd. His family was rounded out by his Collie named Snoopy.

When Thomas’s retirement finally came in 2016, he was well prepared. He used logical analysis of his retirement options in order to ensure his retirement would be fulfilling. Still, he was able to easily adapt to possible changes and enjoyed just having fun and being relaxed. In retirement, he found new pleasure in watching movies and Barbecuing with friends.

Thomas passed away on September 18, 2019 at Centennial Hills Hospital. He is survived by his wife Angie, 2 sons Brian and Brandon, brothers, Jim, Rick, Mike and Butch and sister in law, Natalie. Services were held at Palm Northwest Mortuary.

Thomas was the kind of person who could win others over easily. A concrete communicator, he relied on his senses to increase his involvement and awareness of others. He was always able to provide amusing repartee to his friends and acquaintances, offering a seemingly endless supply of quips, anecdotes, jokes and stories. If Thomas had a theme song written about him, it might well have been “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” He enjoyed his life and the experience of living it. This is how everyone will remember Thomas Neal Dixon.