Olivia Dixon Wells, 83, passed away Saturday, March 29, 2014 at Crystal Coast Hospice House after a brief illness. She was surrounded by her loving family. Mrs. Wells was born in Duplin County on October 29, 1930 to Ernest and Lucille Wallace Dixon. She graduated from Wallace High School in 1949 and attended Atlantic Christian College. She worked for many years as a secretary and bookkeeper. Her business skills were evident even as she aged. She was married to John Franklin Wells in 1952 until the time of his death in 1999. She taught her children to reverence God and to strive to live in a way that honors Him. Her Christian faith was nurtured by three congregations in different seasons of her life. She spent her youth as a member of Teachey Baptist Church. After they married, she and John raised their family in Teachey Presbyterian Church. Three years after her husband's passing, she took the bold step of moving to Newport, NC to be near her youngest grandchildren. Newport Baptist Church became her church home in Carteret County. \"Miss Olivia\" loved and was loved by many friends and family throughout life. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Lucille Dixon; her husband, John Franklin Wells; her brother, Ernest Dixon, Jr.; and her step-mother, Asha C. Dixon. Surviving family members are her children, John Franklin Wells, Jr. and wife Donna, Deborah Houlditch and husband Jim and Jennifer Kern and husband Dave. Her grandchildren are Emily Houlditch, Elizabeth Swinney and husband J.D., Perry Houlditch, Erin Wells, Steven Kern, and Allyson Kern. She was thrilled to have a great-grandchild, Amelia Mae Swinney, whom she had the pleasure of meeting for the first time just days before becoming ill. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Jean Lanier Dixon, and brother-in-law, Joseph H. Wells, along with many beloved nephews, nieces, and cousins. A funeral service, conducted by Reverend Charles Love, will be held at Teachey Presbyterian Church at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 2. Burial will follow at Rockfish Memorial Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Teachey Presbyterian Church prior to the funeral service. Pallbearers will be Ernie Dixon, Steve Dixon, Tim Dixon, Perry Houlditch, Steven Kern and J. D. Swinney. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Crystal Coast Hospice House 100 Big Rock Weigh PO Box 483 Newport, NC 28557; Baptist Children's Homes of NC PO Box 338 Thomasville, NC 27361-0338; Teachey Presbyterian Church PO Box 6 Teachey, NC 28464; Teachey Baptist Church 199 Page Street Teachey, NC 28464 or Newport Baptist Church 312 Chatham Street Newport, NC 28570. To sign the guestbook, please go to padgettfuneralhome.com. A Service of Padgett Funeral and Cremation Services, Wallace, NC.