Clarence “Art” Dixon, 83, of Sweet Home, passed away Wednesday, February 4, 2026 in Lebanon. He was born on October 30, 1942 in Portland, Oregon to Walter O. and Clara E. (Shimmin) Dixon.

He moved to Sweet Home in 1949 when his parents bought the HI-WAY grocery store in Sweet Home which was later removed when they widened Highway 20 to four lanes. The family moved two defense houses from Sweet Home to their property and later the county wanted names for the roads so the family named them Dixie Lane and Manx Lane. Art grew up in Sweet Home, attending Liberty School and Sweet Home High School, graduating in 1960. Art worked for Whites’ Furniture, he did flooring with his Uncle Bud and worked at the Santiam Lumber Mill, saving up for his 1st car a ’51 Chevy, before being drafted in 1965.

Art and Lorretta were married in January 1964, recently celebrating their 62nd wedding anniversary. Together they raised two sons Duane and Darin.

Art was drafted into the United States Army as a Combat Engineer. He attended AIT training in Ft. Belvoir Virginia where he was trained to make dry ice used in hospitals. He received his orders to deploy to Vietnam, being the first of twelve men to arrive to set up a dry ice plant in Quinhon. He served in Vietnam for a year. For his honorable service Art obtained the National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and a М-14 Marksmanship Badge.

After his service in the military he worked at Willamette Industries for 29 years. He enjoyed going to car shows and working on cars with his sons, rebuilding a ’56 Chevy motor and a ’69 Camaro motor.

During his time at the Oregon Veterans’ Home Art enjoyed getting together for group activities, reminiscing about his life, and attending country drives to see how much the area had changed. Loretta visited Art very often and she would bring him cheeseburgers so they could sit and enjoy lunch together.

Art is survived by his wife Loretta, his sons Duane Dixon and Darin Dixon all of Sweet Home, five grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

“Those we hold closest to our hearts never truly leave us. They live on, in the kindness they have shared and the love they brought into our lives” -unknown

Graveside service with military honors will be 11am, Friday, February 13, 2026 at Liberty Cemetery. Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements. www.sweethomefuneral.com.