Dean Donahue

Funeral service for Ernest "Dean" Donahue will be 2 p.m., Monday, June 20, at Inola United Methodist Church with Rev. Gene VanAlstyne officiating. Burial with military honors by the U.S. Navy will follow at Floral Haven Memorial Gardens, Broken Arrow, under the direction of the Inola Funeral Home & Crematory. Visitation will be held at the funeral home Sun. 1-6 p.m., and family will greet friends 2-4 p.m.

Dean died Wed., June 15, 2011, at Claremore Veterans Center at the age of 84.

The son of Harry Keach and Helen Phoebe (Walker) Donahue was born Feb. 22, 1927, in Wichita, KS. Dean grew up in Wakita, OK, and enjoyed playing football and boxing. After his junior year of high school, Dean joined the U.S. Navy and served during World War II. After he was discharged he returned to graduate from Wakita High School. He continued his education at Oklahoma A&M where he studied engineering. On July 12, 1952, Dean married Mary Ellen Ryan in Henrietta, TX. Dean worked for OG&E for several years, and Rainbow Baking as a stationary engineer. He later went to work for Public Service Company of Oklahoma where he was the Manager of Purchasing. He retired after 30 years of service in 1987. Dean and Mary made their home in Tulsa for over 40 years. After Dean's retirement they moved to Grove, and then Inola in 2002. Dean loved to build. He was always building decks and home add-ons. Dean was a Charter member of the Moose Lodge in Tulsa and Grove. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 308, and the Inola United Methodist Church.

Dean is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Clifford Donahue; sister-in-law, Ione Donahue; and nephew, Kenneth Dean Donahue.

He is survived by his wife, Mary of the home; sons: Mikel Donahue and wife, Christie of Broken Arrow, and Richard Donahue and wife, Sandra of Inola; 5 grandchildren, 5 step-grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011, or www.alz.org .