Dorothy Gene Paxman
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Dorothy Gene Pieper Paxman was born May 2, 1929 in Pocatello, Idaho to Frederick William Pieper and Bertha Clara Meyers Pieper. She was born in a little home that her family rented and joined 5 other siblings at the time. All her early education was in Pocatello where she walked no matter the weather. She graduated from Pocatello High School in 1947 and soon after moved to Salt Lake City Utah to continue her education at Comptometry school and lived in the Beehive House on South Temple. When she returned home, she was able to get a job in the mail room with Union Pacific Railroad and worked there until she got married. She met the love of her life while she was in High School but waited several years for him to return from the war and an LDS mission. She married D. Gordon Paxman on August 3, 1950 in the Logan, UT LDS temple and promptly moved to San Francisco, CA for Gordon to begin his dance career. She prides herself that she was only without a job for 5 days: going to work for Pacific Gas and Electric. They loved their time in San Francisco. They met lifelong friends there and had wonderful experiences some of which included traveling around the world with the San Francisco Ballet Company. In 1959 they moved to Salt Lake City Utah to begin a new chapter of their lives. Gordon took employment with the University of Utah starting a ballet department and Dorothy went to work for KUED TV on campus during the day and helping with costumes and anything else that was needed in the evenings. After many years of waiting patiently they received a wonderful phone call that there was a baby boy waiting for them in Ogden and they needed to be there as soon as they could. Without so much as a diaper they headed to Ogden and met a 3-day old beautiful baby boy. A short 21 months later they traveled to Seattle WA to meet a 1-month-old baby girl. Their family was now complete. They made 2 more moves in their lives. First to Kaysville, UT where they finished raising their children, participated in many callings for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and enjoyed many fond experiences in the Amway business. Dorothy was the worker bee, the one who kept things organized, clean and running smoothly, while Gordon was the one in the spotlight. She liked it that way. After retirement they fulfilled a dream of having Dorothy's brother-in-law build them a beautiful home in St. George, UT. They loved it there and Dorothy's white home was her pride and joy. You would never find any dust or dirt and everything was always in its place neat and orderly. While in St. George they were able to serve 3 full time missions. 2 in the historic sites mission and 1 at Deseret Industries helping people with a new language and receiving their GED. They had many wonderful experiences here and made many lifelong friends. Dorothy made one more move several years after Gordon passed away to be closer to her daughter in Idaho. She was determined to make this be a good thing even though she was reluctant to go. Dorothy passed away March 25, 2021 surrounded by loving family. She was preceded in death by her parents, 4 brothers, 2 sisters, and her loving husband, Gordon. She is survived by her children David Laurence Paxman of Stockton, CA, and Dina Louise (Neil) Jensen of Menan, ID. Sisters, Jackie (Richard) Alexander of Rocklin CA, Rita (Dave) Ostler, St, Geroge, UT, Grandchildren Rebecka, Jeremy, Sarah, Todd, Jennifer, Kathryn and Matthew. Great Grandchildren Kylin, Keagen, Audrey, Kelsee, Cooper, Claire, JJ, Hudson, Meili, and Jacob. Graveside services will be held Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at Tonaquint cemetery in St. George, UT at 1:00 pm. Zoom broadcast available at Eckersellfuneralhome.com or meeting ID 446 707 3019.