Dorothy Ann Dennis

Service for Dorothy Dennis will be 10:00a.m., Thursday, April 24, 2025, at New Life Baptist Church, burial will follow at Owalla Cemetery. Friends may visit at the funeral home on Wednesday, April 23, from 2pm-7pm, with family receiving visitors from 5pm-7pm.

Dorothy Ann Dennis, a beloved figure in her community, passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 76. Born on June 5, 1948, in Claremore, Oklahoma, she was the daughter of Tillman and Wilma (Collins) Kizer. Dorothy grew up in the Claremore/Sequoyah area and graduated from Sequoyah High School with the class of 1966.

On May 20, 1966, she married her high school sweetheart, Jack L. Dennis, and together they built a loving home in Claremore where they raised two children. Dorothy was dedicated to her family, always putting others before herself. Her unwavering support was a hallmark of her character; she was the caretaker for her aging parents as well as her ailing brother.

Dorothy enjoyed a varied career, working at Peter Pan Ice Cream and Ye-Old Ice Cream before serving as an office manager for Wilbur Corley. Later, she became known for her role driving the Pelavan in Claremore, where her charming personality endeared her to many.

An avid cook, Dorothy loved preparing meals, bringing joy to her family through her culinary skills. Her devotion to her church and church family was evident in her warmhearted way of connecting with everyone around her, always ready with a hug and kind words both before and after services.

In addition to her nurturing instinct and community spirit, Dorothy had a passion for hobbies including sewing, crafting, and genealogy. She took delight in creating clothes and items for her grandchildren, who brought immense happiness into her life. Dorothy cherished the time spent working with her daughter on genealogy, culminating in the publication of a book about Claremore's rich history. A lover of all things Christmas, her home would transform into a winter wonderland each year spreading warmth, joy and cheer to all. Many in Claremore made her house an annual stop when touring Christmas lights. She enjoyed family trips and enjoyed special memorable adventures with her sisters. Dorothy’s grandchildren and great grandchildren were the loves of her life, and she enjoyed spending every possible minute with them. She was greatly looking forward to the newest arrival in June.

Dorothy is survived by her devoted husband of nearly 59 years, Jack Dennis; her children, April Churchill and her husband Robert, and Mike Dennis and his wife Jennifer; her grandchildren, Rebecca Stanart and her husband Matthew, Ryan Churchill and his wife Jordan, Mica Dennis, Matthew Dennis and his wife Kassie, and Makenna Dennis; and her great-grandchildren, Natalie Stanart, Wade Stanart, Winslow Churchill, Jaycie Dennis, and a great-grandchild on the way. She is also survived by her sisters, Ellen Ivon Yates, Peggy Griffin and her husband Andy, and Tina Kizer; her sister-in-law, Carol Lickliter; and her brother-in-law, Mike Irwin as well as a host of nieces and nephews. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, Tillman and Wilma Kizer; her sister, Cathy Kizer; her brothers, Phillip Kizer and Michael Kizer; and her grandson, Montana Dennis.

Though her physical presence will be deeply missed, Dorothy Ann Dennis’s spirit lives on in the love she shared and the memories she created with all who knew her.