Dixie Dunkley Hunsaker

Dixie Dunkley Hunsaker was born on June 13, 1940 and, though gone too soon, lived a rich 85 years. She spent 66 of those years married to Carlisle Hunsaker. They met as undergraduates at Utah State University and loved and supported each other from that point on.

Dixie grew up in small town Franklin, Idaho, just over the Cache Valley/Idaho border. She had a heavenly youth. Her mother loved to sew and would constantly make beautiful new dresses and clothes for Dixie and her sister, and Dixie was always active in school and community activities, clubs, and events.

Dixie loved education and being on a university campus and eventually earned an advanced degree. She was a renowned elementary school teacher for over 30 years, including some years as a librarian. She loved reading to kids and getting them excited about books. She was known for having the kids in her class line up for a hug each day before going home. Over the years, she would often bump into former students, now adults, who would routinely light up upon seeing her and catching up.

Dixie suffered an unexpected heart attack from which she not able to recover and passed away on November 9, 2025 with her family at her side. We will miss her more than we can express. But as much as we are overwhelmed by grief, we are also overwhelmed with gratitude for such a beautiful person who brought nothing but goodness into our lives.

Dixie is preceded in death by her father Victor Lowe Dunkley, her mother Elaine Kent Dunkley, her sister Paulette (Richard) Medina, and her brother Victor Kent Dunkley. She is survived by her husband Carlisle Hunsaker, daughters Carla (Jean-Michel) Arrigona and Holly Klossner and son Robert Hunsaker. Dixie also had 4 grandchildren whom she adored: Elizabeth (Maxwell) Arrigona, Kyle (Nicole) Klossner, Eric Klossner, and Kathryn Klossner. She was mesmerized by her two new great-grandchildren, Ava Sophia Arrigona and Jack Meade Klossner.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 22 at noon at the LDS Celeste Way Chapel, 3408 S Celeste Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84109. No viewing will be held. Friends and loved ones may leave messages and thoughts at HolbrookMortuary.com

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