Claremore - Services to remember and celebrate the life of Daniel William Dennis will be Monday, March 30, 2026, at 11:00am in the chapel at DeLozier Funeral Service. Burial will follow in Oowala Cemetery where he will be laid to rest beside his wife of 61 years. Dan passed away in Claremore on Sunday, March 22, 2026. He was 81 years old.

Born in Kansas City, Missouri on March 31, 1944, to Herman and Bobbie (Smith) Dennis. Daniel, "Dan" or "Danny Bill" as he was known by his family and friends, was raised and educated in the Sequoyah area and graduated from Sequoyah Public Schools in 1962. On July 26, 1963, in Claremore, OK, Daniel married the love of his life Marcella Shrum. Their marriage was gifted with 2 children, Alan and Dana. Dan provided for his family working as a carpenter in the construction industry for 50 years.

Dan and Marcella moved to Anchorage, Alaska in 1967 because of the construction boom there. During his time in Anchorage, according to his children, Dan built a motel that still is used today from a sketch that was done on a single sheet of paper. Alan and Dana were born in Anchorage; however, in 1973 the family moved back to Claremore and the community he called home for the rest of his life. Many wonderful memories were made in Alaska and were a joy to remember among the family. Dan and Marcella drove the same route back to Alaska in 2000. Their kids and grandkids met them there in Anchorage. What a joy it was to hear his stories of places where they lived and worked!

Dan's connection to nature and the outdoors started at a very young age. As a young child Dan would spend 3 or 4 days at a time camping out in the woods around his family's home. He was fascinated with astrology, and his children remember him having them all sleep outside so they could see different constellations that might not have been visible again in his lifetime. Dan liked to fish and camp. Family vacations were spent many times at Natural Falls, or below the spillway in Disney, OK. Family road trips on Sunday afternoons were filled with making memories that his children will cherish for the rest of their lives.

Dan was interested in Family Genealogy and had family trees going back numerous generations. In fact, Dan's family was part of the Northern Cherokee Tribe, a heritage he was very proud of. Even though the tribe isn't recognized by the Federal Government, Dan would tell family it was because they never made it to the reservation but stayed back to fight. Whatever subject Dan was interested in, he surrounded himself with books about it. No story about Dan would be complete unless you mentioned his fascination with hummingbirds. He spent many hours studying all the different varieties and their unique characteristics and always kept the feeders full! Being drawn back to the church by a personal friendship in later life, Dan would spend hours studying the Bible and getting answers to his many questions about Christ's life. He also participated at times by offering prayers, sermons, and leading singing for the congregation.

Dan has left a legacy that will live on in the lives of his family and friends. Dan is survived by his children, Alan Dennis (Vickie), Dana Campbell (Doug); grandchildren, Megan Campbell (Sheldon), Adam Campbell (Amber), Bill Jones (Connie), Jeremy Jones (Erika); great grandchildren, Maci Campbell, Stormi and Spencer Mashburn, Eden Campbell, and Hannah Jones; nephews, Steve Dennis and Derek Dennis; cousins, Jack Dennis and Carol Lickliter; and sisters-in-law Bea Brazeal and Earline Beam; numerous other nieces, nephews, and extended family. Dan was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Marcella, brothers, David and Donald Dennis, sisters/ brothers-in-law.

Please view and sign Dan's online tribute at www.delozierfuneralservice.com