On Monday, January 13, 2025, Sandra Elaine (Newman) Dixon, known to those who love her as Sandi, Mom, and San San, left her earthly home of 70 years. She spent her last moments surrounded by loved ones.
She left behind a loving, living legacy of two children Evan (Abby) Dixon and Mollie (Jayce) Popowski. Her husband of 36 years, Phillip, remains behind to share their memories, plant her flowers, and tend her legacy with love and devotion.
Sandi’s life began as the third child of loving parents Lyda (Duncan) Newman and Houston Newman on October 10, 1954, at Henderson Community Hospital in Henderson, Kentucky.
She graduated from Henderson City High School in 1972 and began nursing classes at Henderson Community College. She later graduated from the University of Evansville with both Bachelors and Masters degrees in Nursing.
She began her nursing career at the same hospital where she was born and spent many years working both nights and days on the medical and surgical units. Throughout her 45-year career in nursing, the patients for which she cared would remember her kindness and compassion, while her co-workers would remember her leadership, professionalism, and brilliance in the field. Throughout her career, and especially after her retirement, she was a faithful volunteer to many organizations.
In 2018, her most cherished role as a grandmother, San San, began with the arrival of her first grandchild, Eliza, and a grandson to follow in 2021, Graham. It was then her new passions showed: wagon pulling, block building, kissing boo-boos, and reading no less than one million picture books. Having fulfilled her initial callings of nurse, wife, and mother, she considered herself blessed to have this chapter of her life to cherish.
Survivors include her husband Phillip Dixon of Sebree, Kentucky; son Evan Dixon and wife Abby of Henderson, Kentucky; daughter Mollie Popowski and husband Jayce of Greenville, Kentucky; sister Cleo Roberson of Springfield Tennessee; granddaughter Eliza Dixon, grandsons, Bry Roberson, Greenbrier, TN &
Curt Roberson, Murfreesboro, TN, Graham Dixon; cousin John Newman and wife Susie; mother-in-law Dean Dixon of Henderson, Kentucky; sister-in-law Toby Dixon Poole and husband Greg of Henderson, Kentucky; brother-in-law David Dixon and wife Rendy of Henderson, Kentucky; and niece Clara Dixon of Louisville, Kentucky.
Sandi was preceded in death by a grandson, Oliver Dixon; a brother Roland Houston Newman; grandparents Arthur and Lillie (Duncan) Newman; Henry and Mollie (Leslie) Duncan; her parents Lyda (Duncan) and Houston Newman; father-in-law, Lewis Dixon; nephew Lewis Reed Lamb; uncle and aunt, Ronnie and Sue Newman.
The family extends their gratitude to the staff at Redbanks Colonial Terrace for their care and compassion in her final days.
A celebration of life is planned for Friday, January 17, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Rudy Rowland Funeral Home in Henderson, Kentucky, with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Sandi’s favorite charities, Habitat for Humanity of Henderson or St. Vincent De Paul of Henderson.
