October 07, 1937 – February 24, 2024

"If I can't fix it, nobody can…destroy it!"

"When all else fails, get a bigger hammer."

Don was born October 07, 1937 at Lindsay, OK to John Robert Dennis and Ruth Agnes (Nelson) Dennis. He went peacefully to be with his heavenly Father on Saturday, February 24, 2024 in Hydro, OK at the age of 86.

He was a middle child of eleven kids and grew up on farms in Lindsay, Sandy Grove, Dibble and Newcastle Oklahoma.

On November 20th, 1957, He wed Rita Mae (Winnard) Dennis in Oklahoma City, OK. The couple lived in Oklahoma City before moving to Hinton to raise an expanding family in 1964. They were blessed with three children, Gary, Sherri, and Karen.

Even at an early age, Don loved the challenge of solving problems. He was a self-taught mechanic, builder, and inventor. He worked on family and friend's vehicles, used car lot mechanic and bought and fixed up his own cars to resale. He was a full-service station attendant and a propane delivery driver while living in OKC. Shortly after moving to Hinton, Don worked as an auto mechanic at England Ford and later again as a tractor mechanic in the 80's. He owned his own mechanic shop for many years until deciding to make a change when a tornado took his shop. Don was extremely touched and blessed by the outpouring of support from family, friends and neighbors. He made a decision to make Jesus his Lord and Savior by all the love shown. Don loved farming and being outdoors. He raised cattle, horses, pigs, chicken, quail and pheasant for release into the wild. He and Gary raised cattle and custom harvested wheat, maze and cotton. He worked side by side with Gary building his business, Juda. He helped build and remodel the building, was an auto, tractor, lawn equipment warranty mechanic, and worked with manufacturers on improving product design. He was passionate about hunting, fishing and traveling. He loved to spend time with family and friends. He helped for many years in the Bridgeport community, and the Hinton Rodeo and Fair along with many other community events. He was a lifetime member of multiple wildlife organizations.

In their younger years, the couple belonged to a square dance club in El Reno, OK. They enjoyed dancing, traveling with the club and getting to know other couples. Don was preceded in death by his wife, Rita Dennis, his parents John Robert and Ruth Agnes (Nelson) Dennis, his son Gary Don Dennis and Sharon (Farr) Dennis, his grandson, Joel Bradley Dennis (stillborn), his brothers Freddie Dennis, Claude Dennis, Roy Dennis, and Kennith Dennis, his sisters Dixie (Barnett) Carter, Edna (Dennis) Bean, Mary (Dennis) Riddles, Ada (Dennis) Cagle, and Lee Ann Dennis (stillborn).

Don is survived by his daughters Sherri (Dennis) Gaylord and husband Ken, Karen (Dennis) Bowman and husband Trent, his grandsons Nicholas Gaylord, Stephen Dennis and wife Laken, and Cody Bowman, his granddaughters Tisha (Dennis) Bender and husband Jonas, Crystal Gaylord, Kaylee Bowman, Katelyn (Dennis) Hutson and husband Brent, his great-granddaughters Emori Hutson and Stevie Dennis, his sister Judy (Dennis) Allen and husband Larry, and many other nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives. He will be greatly missed and forever be in our hearts!