Sarah Carmela Cortez Dixon

February 8, 1930 - April 20, 2020

Sarah Carmela Cortez Dixon passed away peacefully on Monday April 20, 2020. Sarah was born in Mesa, AZ on February 8, 1930 to Pablo and Mercedes Cortez and was the 7th of 10 children. She is preceded in death by her siblings Manuel, Vidal, Pablo, Isabelle Avila, Julia Morales, Esther Hernandez Duarte, Mercy Murrietta, and Joe, and survived by younger brother Manuel (Sookie). Sarah married Antonio Martinez Del Castillo in August 1949, and they had 4 children who survive her: Rachel Paulin of La Jolla, CA; Michael (Marcy) Del Castillo of Canon City, CO; Kathy Wickline of Chicago, IL; and Irene (Martin) Rowland of Mesa, AZ. Sarah later married Douglas C. Dixon and they welcomed daughter Carol Mooney of Cave Creek, AZ. Her 2nd eldest daughter Elaine (Mark) Merold passed away in 2018. Sarah was extremely proud of her 11 grandchildren: Kris (Lissette) Wickline, Jeremy Wickline, Steven Del Castillo, James (Lupe’) Del Castillo, Sean Del Castillo, Rebecca Del Castillo, Jared Rowland, Kimberly (Joseph) Loy, Ford Mooney, Haiden Mooney, and W. Xavier Mooney, and she was equally proud of her 10 great-grandchildren: Ashley Wickline Guthrie (mother to Bailey, her great-great grand-daughter), Kristopher Jr., Lexi, and Max Wickline; Liam, Ashton, and Hattie Loy; Jacob and Catherine Del Castillo, and Dublin Mooney-Brown. Sarah graduated from Mesa High School in 1948. She was a lifelong resident of Mesa and was a dual retiree, first from the Arizona State Compensation Fund and later from the City of Mesa Court system. Sarah was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and enjoyed spending time with her children, and grandchildren and especially liked to take trips to visit everyone. She liked visiting the casinos, going to movies, and having nice dinners with special friends, and looked forward to large celebrations and reunions. She regularly hosted the annual Christmas Eve gathering with her extended family consisting of numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends too numerous to list but not forgotten, all of whom she dearly loved. Sarah will be laid to rest on Monday April 27, 2020 at Mountain View Cemetery through restricted graveside services. A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held at a later date in order that extended family and friends may attend and share their memories of Sarah. The family would welcome those who wish to pay their respects to share a special memory on the Meldrum Mortuary website.