Dirk Mason Tolleson's Obituary
Dirk Mason Tolleson AKA Cowboy Dirk, was born on September 17th, 1963 ( forever his favorite holiday). He passed away on July 11, 2022, leaving the world a better place then he found it. It is amazing how one person with “special needs” can have been so successful in fulfilling so many others needs without even realizing how much he brought out the best in others.
When Dirk was born at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, it was practice to immediately place babies with Down Syndrome in institutions. If it wasn’t for his pediatrician who told our Mom to take this perfect baby with an extra chromosome home and to call him if we ever had any hurdles. There were probably a few calls, but having Dirk grow up anywhere but with his family was never talked about again. Life expectancy for DS back then then was 20 years, Thankfully, since then, the life expectancy of people with DS born in current times has increased to about 60 years. As a friend wrote us: Dirk outlived his date stamped, thanks to all the love and community connections but he definitely had not reached his “best by” date. He faced his Alzheimer’s dementia and slow loss of function this last year with such grace and bravery. It is up to us to carry his teachings on.
Dirk had only a few years of formal schooling because he was born long before the 1990 ADA was signed into law. He was mostly “home schooled” where he learned to read and write and more importantly how to grow into someone with clarity and connection who through all his challenges, or possibly because of how he met adversity, he lived a wonderful life and developed a sense of inner peace and humor few others achieve.
Always working as an adult, he held various full time service jobs in restaurants and cleaning offices until he moved to Tucson where he became employed by Beacon Group and worked in the paper shredding department. He loved riding around in the collection truck. He worked at Beacon for about 10 years until he retired to care for our parents at home. He filled his free time with many activities and decided he liked “retirement” after our parents passed so he could help other family and pursue his art projects and music interests.
He was a faithful and dedicated volunteer at Casa Maria soup Kitchen and Humane Borders,
Dirk brought us such joy; we all have Dirk-isms on our mind that will be shared as time goes on. He was a light in this world, who loved anyone he met. Being with horses, dancing at Jazzercise, singing, listening to music, hiking (looking for eagles or turkey vultures), performing at community talent shows, doing the Buddy Walk, gardening and watching Wildcats basketball were some of his favorite things. His smile was infectious and his excitement over the smallest things brought happiness to everyone around him. He was always ready to lend a hand (or play a prank) to help family or neighbors with any chore or project. If he met you once, he claimed you as his friend. Our family has been blessed to have him in our family. Dirk was the best son, brother, uncle, and friend. He will be missed dearly.
If you wish to make a donation in Dirk’s name, please consider two organizations that he loved: Southern Arizona Network for Down Syndrome https://www.sandsaz.org/ Equinimity https://www.equinimitytucson.com/
What’s your fondest memory of Dirk?
What’s a lesson you learned from Dirk?
Share a story where Dirk's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Dirk you’ll never forget.
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