Dixie Leilani Ortiz passed away peacefully in the early minutes of December 21, 2022, in the loving presence of her devoted husband Jerry. She gifted her children and grandchildren 8 days of sacred experiences that will comfort them in the coming days, weeks, and years of missing her until reunited.

Dixie was born August 19, 1944, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to George Allison and Marjorie Davis Collins. Dixie then moved to the Bay Area and resided in Alameda, California, where she met Jerrold Joseph Ortiz at Alameda High School. As a sophomore to Jerry's senior, she brilliantly was able to switch her locker location to be next to his. Minus a hiccup when he dumped her on her 17th birthday and with recovery from that heartbreak aided by Johnny Mathis, they spent what was the following days and then 58 years as devoted and loving husband and wife.

The early years of their courtship and marriage continued in the Bay Area, where they loved scenic drives to Bodega Bay and were avid fans and attendees to Candlestick Park, cheering on their beloved San Francisco 49ers. Dixie was such a fan that she became a little superstitious, and as the family would gather to watch games she would mostly sit on the stairs hidden around the corner from the TV to not 'jinx' them and cause a loss. They moved to southern California for a few years before making the move to Orem, Utah, in 1979 where they have resided since.

Dixie enjoyed watching Jerry in the many tennis tournaments he played in. She loved decorating her home and filling it with music; Elton John, Barbra Streisand, and Barry Manilow to name just a few. She loved going to musical theater with Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables and Wicked being some of her favorites. Dixie would claim her love of reading books, but truthfully, her children never saw her read anything but People magazine, which now makes us smile.

She was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where her greatest of many callings was the conversion of her sweetheart Jerry in 1978. Their marriage was solemnized in the Salt Lake City temple in 1980. She loved children from young ages to the LDS missionaries she and Jerry served while in the Spanish branch at the Provo MTC. She made holidays special. She was quick to laugh and made a great audience for all who humored her. She enjoyed traveling with Jerry. She was truly the happiest at Disneyland and spent decades going with her family, Jerry, children, and then grandchildren.

Dixie led a life that was blessed with the love and service of her husband Jerry, and all of her family. Perhaps all the words that can't fit into an obituary are the very things her husband, family, friends, and neighbors will cherish the most and will lovingly carry with them throughout their days of honoring her memory.

Dixie is survived by her sweetheart Jerry Ortiz, her children Christy (John) Tousley, Jill (Jack) Evans, Ryan (Amy) Ortiz, and Todd (Jade) Ortiz; grandchildren Jack (Jaycie), Mitchell (Emily), Corinne Tousley; Cole (Courtney), Cade, Rhett, Luke Murdock; Sarah, Katie Evans; Sammie, Cheyenne, Christian, Peyton Ortiz; Ethan Ortiz; and great grandchildren Ava Murdock, Liam Tousley. She was preceded in death by her parents, George, Marjorie, and Verla Collins and brother Kerry Collins.

As a dear family friend graciously shared, "in the days the world celebrates our Savior, our mother embraced Him."

Visitations will be Wednesday, December 28, 6:00 - 8:00 pm and Thursday December 29, 9:30 - 10:30 am at the Canyon View 3rd Ward Building, 762 East 1200 North, Orem, where Funeral Services will begin at 11:00 am.

A live broadcast of service will begin at 11:00 am at www.walkersanderson.com where condolences and memories may be shared online with the family.