Jeffery Dale Dixon of Lead Hill, Arkansas, passed away on September 11, 2026, at the age of 64, far sooner than he had planned.
Jeff arrived in this world kicking and screaming on December 19, 1961, in Little Rock, Arkansas. The second son of Charlie and Della, Jeff was raised on the family farm in South Lead Hill with siblings Tommy, Mona and Angi.
Jeff was one of those lucky people who met the love of his life when he was very young during his school years at Lead Hill. He graduated in 1980 and quickly joined the US Army to travel the world beyond Arkansas. He married Amanda Neal on his twentieth birthday on December 19, 1981, and whisked her away to military life in Hawaii. As young adults living on an island halfway around the world from their families, they learned to lean on each other as they grew together.
Jeff and Amy completed their family with their daughter Jessica and son Charley. Jeff was a devoted father who loved his children dearly and spent many hours holding them, playing with them, and teaching them. Even as an adult, Jessica still spent time sitting on her daddy’s lap. Charley followed Jeff’s footsteps to join the military and travel the world. Jeff was the family’s hero, and he always made them feel protected and cherished.
During his more than 20-year Army career he achieved the rank of Sergeant First Class, but what most defined his career was being a Night Stalker. As part of the elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, he was often sent to far-flung and dangerous places. His service took him from Schofield Barracks in Hawaii to Fort Carson, Colorado; Camp Stanley, South Korea; Fort Campbell, Kentucky; and beyond to Panama, Iraq, Haiti, Poland, Germany, Brazil, Cambodia, Greenland, Somalia, Guinea, and more. When asked where he wanted to
travel to in retirement, he worked on a map with his daughter to identify 65 countries he had already been to.
Jeff specialized in the mechanics of the AH-6/MH-6 helicopters, known as the Little Birds, and carried a passion for the helicopter throughout his life. He served as Battalion Safety NCO and was Airborne Certified with jumps around the world. The Night Stalkers were Jeff’s second family, and he was fiercely protective of those he served alongside. He was known to fight for his men over choosing promotions or awards for himself
While Jeff was a tough Army guy on the outside, inside his shell was a man who loved big and with his whole heart. He had his mother Della’s compassionate heart and was an attentive caregiver, baby-whisperer, and animal charmer. Jeff often showed up with thoughtful little gifts to bring joy to those he loved. His comforting presence made everyone from babies to his hand-fed bull feel safe.
After his retirement, Jeff and Amy built a home and farm together near Lead Hill where they raised cattle. They enjoyed taking cruises together where they could take walks hand-in-hand on the beach. The loss of their son Charley in 2015 was devastating, and they held each other up through the pain as only life-long love can do.
Visitation will be held at 10 a.m., followed by funeral services at 11 a.m., on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at First Baptist Church in Lead Hill, Arkansas. Burial will follow at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Lead Hill with military honors.
Pallbearers will be Jeff’s son-in-law Kip Kibling; brother Tommy Dixon; Army brothers Kenny Helms, Joe Lemons, Johnny Jones, and Brock Fleahman; and childhood friends Larry Dickey and Robbie DeVore. Honorary pallbearers include Jeff’s fellow Night Stalkers.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to the Night Stalker Foundation to continue supporting his Night Stalker family. https://nightstalkerfoundation.org/give-back or P.O. Box 31523, Clarksville, TN, 37040.
