Emmett Dixon

Emmett Lewis Dixon, 64 of Inverness, Florida died on Thursday, March 2, 2017. He was born on Wednesday, September 10, 1952 to Louis and Ruth (Kleinschmidt) Dixon in Queens, New York. Emmett was a retired merchandise handler and moved to this area in 2006 from Ronkonkoma, Long Island, New York. He enjoyed golfing, fishing, hunting, snow skiing and cruising the oceans.

Emmett was preceded in death by his parents and by his brother, Marshall Dixon.

Survivors include his wife of 40 years, Gail (Batt) Dixon of Inverness, Florida; brother, Douglas Dixon and wife Linda of Ovid, New York; sister-in-law, Linda Assande and husband Anthony of Long Island, New York and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation, Sunday, March 5, 2017 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Fero Funeral Home. Memorial Service of Remembrance, Monday, March 6, 2017 at 1:00 PM at Fero Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made in Emmett's memory to the Leukemia Society at www.lls.org

Arrangements entrusted to

Fero Funeral Home

www.ferofuneralhome.com

Emmett was more then my very best friend, more then my brother, he was a part of me, he was and will always be part of my soul, the very essence of who I am as a person. My mother used to tell me, as a child, that if you go through life and you have one truly great friend you are lucky. I was more then lucky, I was blessed. Emmett, YOU, have been and will be my very best friend till I too draw my last breath.

This is a day of unimaginable grief for those who loved Emmett ( which I guess is everyone who knew him). He was generous, loving, funny as heck, caring, always putting others first and most of all he taught others what it meant to be a good person, what it meant to be there for others and how to make you laugh.

I think God puts us here to make an impact on others by our actions not words to show others how to love and make those around us better people. Emmett embodied all of those traits and more. So let me share a few memories of Emmett in honor of great impact he had on our lives.

Emmett was a brilliant person but he never really recognized just how smart he was, despite all the times I had to prove it to him.

I remember when we were in 10th grade, Biology and we sat next to each other. Emmett and I always competed at everything, even with our at school grades. I was determined that Emmett was not going to score higher then I was on the bio tests. So I would study hard and Emmett never did, and yet he almost always beat me on a test. In fact, on our Regents exam, I must have studied 20 - 30 hours. When we spoke before the Regents he said why would you study so much, you don't need to do that. I said yes I do because I am going to finally beat you on a test. He laughed that great laugh of his and we took the test. As time went by we got our grades, I got a 96 and proceeded to call Emmett to see how he did, before I got the words out Emmett said hey I got a 98 on the Regents how did you do? It was an OMG moment, he did it again. I think, like his brother, had Emmett wanted to walk down a road to getting a doctorate, he would have easily accomplished that goal, I think Emmett could do anything he wanted to do and excel at it. But he chose a different path, one that made him happier then any degree could have....to be true to himself and to Gail who he adored and who he loved beyond what most people can imagine.

In 1971 we were working at A&S while the armed services draft lottery was being conducted. We listened intently to the radio as dates were drawn. Sure enough this was the one lottery we both would win. I drew number 55, and proceeded to tell Emmett. A few minutes passed and Emmett found me and said well I guess we are both getting drafted, as he drew number 54. Talk about divine providence, what are the chances? Several months later my Grandfather drove us both to Fort Dix. Emmett must have been so nervous that his blood pressure soared to super high levels. It was so high that they 4F'd him on the spot and all he had to do was get 4 more tests by his own Dr.

As his mother grew older he and Gail bought a home so his mother could live in the downstairs apartment. They both took care of her for many years, They often cooked for her, cleaned, took her to her Doctors and even took her on vacations with them so she get to do what she never did, go on cruises.

About 10 years ago Emmett and Gail decided to move to Florida so they could be there for Gail's parents. Emmett said it is his turn to help, after all Gail was so phenomenal and supportive of his desire to be there for his mother.

After a few years they lost Doug, her Father. So they began to think about when would it be the right time for them sell their home and share a home with Gail's mom so they could take care of her as well. But even before they did this, every time Emmett would mow his lawn he made sure to go to his in laws home to mow their lawn as well. That was Emmett and Gail, always putting others first.

If you don't mind please indulge me as I go back to 1970. It was a Cold Friday in the later part of January and there was a Jewish youth group trip, that evening, to go on a bowling outing. I asked Emmett to come along with me and he said, but I am not Jewish, my reply was, who cares, just tell them your name is Ed Cohen. So he became Ed Cohen, in fact he signed my high school year book with some funny stuff and signed it your friend, Ed Cohen. That was the night I met my wife, Joette. As we entered the bus I whispered to Emmett, sit behind those girls I have to meet that girl with the long dark hair. So he did it and later went onto say he let me have her. Well I guess you just had to be there but it was a long standing joke that just broke us up all the time.

Some would say we were joined at the hip, I think that is accurate, we were. Whatever hobby Emmett loved I wanted to pick it up, ie Golf. Emmett loved the game of golf, so I tried, although not well to learn the game of golf, just so I could play it with Emmett. Emmett loved to swim, he was like a fish in the water, heck he would go dive to depths with no scuba gear that others would never dare to do. I tried to keep up with him but it was no contest. Emmett was a great swimmer and I am not.

We loved each others company and used to double and triple date every single weekend for many years.

At one point I learned to Ski and called Emmett and said you must come skiing, you will love it. So he did and low and behold he did love it. I think Emmett picked up skiing so he could share those experiences with me. Some of the outfits he wore were really cool (an expression we used to use) and boy were they loud in color. I can still see him skiing in that bright yellow one piece ski suit and telling everyone he looked like a big banana.

Emmett and I would go down some pretty tough slopes and Emmett often said you know you are trying to kill me going down these trails and laugh. I would say but it was your idea to ski these diamonds and double diamonds. In fact before we would go out, for the day, he would often say, OK Mike, no expert trails today. I replied OK whatever you want to ski is fine with me and besides I am tired so lets ski the blue squares today. Well within an hour we would be on a chair lift at places like Heavenly Valley or Squaw Valley and he would see these really steep runs underneath the chair lift and say, hey you want to go down that trail. I would look at him, crack up, and say I thought you did not want to go down diamonds or double diamonds. Emmett would gleefully say, yea but it looks fun, and I can do this so lets do it. I think he did it because he knew I loved those trails. As we went down them he would look at me and say, you know you are trying to kill me I would laugh and laugh and say but it was your idea and he would reply yea but you didn't have to listen to me.

Emmett was by far the funniest person I have ever known. No matter what you were doing he could find humor in it, especially hanging out in the ski house. My gosh I could tell you hundreds of hysterically funny ski stories and I think Gail knows them all by heart. We sure rehashed them often and we always cracked up with tears in our eyes from laughing so hard. So allow me two in his honor.

We rented a ski house each year with 18 or so good friends. Emmett came up with Gail often. One weekend Eleanora had bought this big white poofy Rabbit hair, ski hat. When she asked everyone what they thought of the hat Emmett said you look like a big giant cue tip. Man did we all crack up, but it was a typical quick witted line that only Emmett could come up with. You had to be there and hear the infliction in his voice, believe me the house erupted in laughter, most of all Eleanora. The next day we are skiing the North face at Mount Snow. There are about 8 of us from the ski house already down on the lift line when we spot Eleanora coming down Free Fall. Emmett yells out look here comes a giant cue tip. Not kidding, about 100 people, on the lift line, turned and looked up the hill, saw Eleanora and proceeded to crack up. OK just one more, ski story. So the lines were really long one day and I said to Emmett why don't we go on the singles line so we can get up the mountain quicker. I got on first and Emmett followed right behind me on the next chair. I sat next to person wearing a Red one piece ski outfit. As we are heading up one of the Northface lifts, Emmett yells out hey you in the Red ski suit, the guy sitting next to you likes you, I mean he really likes you. So the rest of the way up the trail we were cracking up, even the guy sitting next to me was laughing. Emmett felt that we were at our best when we could poke fun at ourselves and others and it his job to make you laugh or smile. Emmett you got an A ++ on that test.

Emmett loved to tell stories, in fact there were times Emmett would tell a story and in the middle he would say, hey did I tell you this story, yes I replied, at times, but please continue I want to hear it again. I could listen to him talk all day long and cherish every last second of it. I do not generally like to speak on the phone for long periods of time. But when Emmett called you did not want to cut it short & neither did he.

Another aspect of who Emmett was, is that he was a man who did not like public displays of affection parting ways with a hand shake was enough. No hugs or kisses, he used to say I hate that Mike. I always wanted to give him big hugs and a kiss on his cheek as we parted but I had to settle on I love you buddy.

At our 40th wedding Anniversary Emmett got up to speak, he made Joette and I so happy to hear his incredible words that I just had to walk up to him, as he finished speaking, and give him a great big hug and kiss and he gave me the biggest hug I have ever gotten. I said to him, sorry for the kiss and hug, but I just had to let you know how much I love you brother and he said I know Mike and we love you both, so it's Ok, just don't do it again. Once again there was Emmett with the comic relief.

So to my dearest friend, to the person who I loved more then life itself, to my brother, to the best friend anyone can have. I will miss our weekly chats on the phone, our vacations together, the stories and all the trips we were planning once Gail retired. I know you would not want me to be upset and certainly not to cry. So if I am doing so, I apologize I really am trying so hard to be strong for you and Gail, but it is just so hard.

You will be missed and I will continue to love you, talk to you in my prayers each and every night. I just wish we had more time, 50 years seems like a long time but it is not, it is a tiny amount of time that just flies bye. God Bless you Emmett, rest in peace my dear friend. I love you more then words can express. I hope in heaven that you will have many more great stories to tell and an eternity of peace, love and laughter.

With much love in my heart,

Mike Axelberd and Joette