Clearwater Couple 'Starting Over' After Home Is Destroyed

Bill Dixon was startled awake early Monday morning by a loud crash. He was covered in lath and plaster. The Clearwater man called for his wife who was downstairs, and then called 911.

What Bill and Chellie Dixon didn't know yet was strong winds had just toppled a large cottonwood tree in their yard, crashing it into the home they had shared for 40 years in Clearwater. A large branch came through the bedroom where Bill had been sleeping, narrowly missing him.

Perhaps the most miraculous thing was the timing of the event. Bill said he was sleeping on his wife’s side of the bed. If he hadn’t been there, he would have fallen from the second-story bedroom.

Bill said that once the tree had been removed the next day, the damage was obvious. “The living room is what was destroyed, and the whole front of the house was peeled off."

It wasn’t just a house that was destroyed, but a home full of memories.

“You go in the house and you have to cry, because it’s 40 years, 40 Christmases,” he said.

The house was previously owned by his wife’s grandmother and has been in the family for decades. To make matters worse, the Dixons had been in the process of remodeling their home.

“Ninety-five percent of the kitchen was completely new,” Bill said, “We had it sided and had new windows put on it. After all these years we’re fixing it up. . . and it's gone."

Bill and his wife are both retired, which makes this a very difficult time. 

“We’re senior citizens. We have to start over now," he said.

In the midst of this family’s tragedy, something amazing happened that small towns are famous for - community spirit. 

Volunteers began arriving at 9 a.m. Monday morning. By 12:30 p.m., the entire house was empty and the Dixon’s belongings were packed into boxes in storage. After that, work began on removing the fallen tree from the house. Four hours later, the tree had disappeared thanks to an effort of about 50 people.

“I wouldn’t have been anywhere else,” Bill said, raving about the community effort. "Not one person complained, not one person stood around. . . . The kids were just phenomenal.”

He spoke about how eager everyone was to lend their time and equipment, as well as donating various items needed for the cleanup, from newspapers and boxes to food for the volunteer crews.

The community members, went one step further and supported the family emotionally. "Everyone was hugging us and telling us it was going to be okay," Chellie said.

The family was touched when the volunteers did the impossible and found a pocket watch that was given to Bill by his father-in-law 25 years ago. He said it was like finding a needle in a haystack and everyone cheered when it was finally uncovered. 

The crew diligently searched through the rubble for the family’s sentimental items, even making a game out of it. Whoever found the most would be his and Chellie's "best friend for life.”

“They’re wonderful, great people,” Chellie said tearfully. 

The family has no current plans for the house, which is more than likely not repairable. They would like to purchase another house in the area and are currently staying with their son, Brian. However, Bill says he has had many people offer their homes to him and his wife.

“I just want to thank the people in this town, all the messages and the sorry’s and the prayers. That's all important,” Bill said with a smile, "I just can’t imagine living anywhere else."

Bill and Chellie may have lost their house, but they're both grateful to have survived the incident. 

"I guess we just have more work to do," Chellie said.