DEXTER, Mo. -- Betty Ruth Evans Dixon, daughter of the late Louis Wiley and Laura Geneva Davis Evans of Bloomfield, Missouri, was born Sept. 20, 1941, in Dexter. She entered eternal life with our God the Father and Lord Jesus Christ on Wednesday, July 3, 2019. She passed at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis at the age of 77, surrounded by her family, held with love and lifted in prayer as she ascended to Heaven.

Betty was united in marriage, love and faith to Kenneth Dixon, formerly of Dexter, in West Plains, Missouri, Dec. 26, 1959. He preceded her in death Sept. 28, 2017, and is now reunited with her in Heaven.

Betty devoted her life to serving God, loving her family, serving and helping those in need and giving smiles to all she met. She was a devoted member of the Cape County Cowboy Church in Oak Ridge, where she found many friends and celebrated her Christian faith.

After her graduation from Bloomfield High School, she attended Missouri Baptist School of Nursing. She became a registered nurse and lifelong health care professional, further enabled by emergency medical technician training. Her love of others, caring soul and medical expertise allowed her to provide health care, education and loving support to many throughout Southeast Missouri. Betty's professional experiences included service as the district nurse for the Richland School District in Essex, Missouri, and as the plant nurse for Procter & Gamble in Cape Girardeau.

She was a passionate, lifelong learner, immersing herself in history and reading. Travel and discovery were her passions, and she was always ready for long road trips with no specific destination. She couldn't pass a national or state park without stopping to enjoy the trees, wildlife, quiet and a picnic. When not traveling with her soul mate and husband, she was best remembered sitting on her back porch, giving pats to a basset hound at her feet.

She is survived by two loving children, who regarded their mother as a romantic soul, enabler of dreams and lifelong protecter of her family: Kendra and her husband, Tim Ward, of Jackson and Kevin and his wife, Laurie Dockins Dixon, of Chesterfield, Missouri.

She had five grandchildren, who adored her and were embraced by her love: Brittany (Ward) Mathis, Justin Ward, Evan Ward, Sydney Dixon and Olivia Dixon. In addition to her grandchildren, she enjoyed giving warm smiles and long hugs to three great-grandchildren: Harper Mathis, Blake Mathis and Gabriel Ward.

Betty is survived by her brother, Robert Evans of Pasadena, California, and her sister, Barbara Evans of Bloomfield. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Bob Dixon of Springfield, Missouri.

She was a loving daughter-in-law to the late Clyde and Mae (McKee) Dixon of Dexter and sister-in-law to the late Clyde Dixon and Darrell Dixon of Dexter.

Her family celebrates her beautiful life, giving heart, gentle nature and a lifetime of wonderful memories.

Friends may call from noon to 2 p.m. Monday at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

A celebration of life service will begin at 2 p.m. Monday, with the Rev. Jim Matthews officiating. Interment will follow in Dexter Cemetery.

The family requests memorials be made to American Lung Association, which can be reached at lung.org, and Cape County Cowboy Church, 220 Orchid Lane, Oak Ridge, MO 63769.