Obituary for Dennis Ray Weaver
Dennis Ray Weaver was born on the August 16, 1940 in Durant, Oklahoma and peacefully passed into the arms of Jesus on September 5, 2022 at the age of 82, surrounded by his family who will miss him dearly.
Dennis was the second eldest son of Melvin Paul and Lois Vanita (Weger) Weaver of Durant. He was a 1958 graduate of Durant High School and attended Southeastern State College before pursuing a lifelong career as an electrician with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).
When Dennis was 19, he met his future wife Lola Mae Cravens at Sherrer’s Drive-In in Durant, and they married a year later on June 3. This past June marked their 61st wedding anniversary. Dennis’s career moved them from Armstrong to Dallas to McAlester and then finally back to Durant where they lived on the family block on S. 11th, later making their permanent home in Silo. Dennis commuted wherever his work took him, including Oklahoma City, Hugo, Texarkana, and Dallas.
As a journeyman electrician Dennis worked on IBEW projects across the region, including the Hugo power plant, Dallas high rises, prisons and hospitals in Oklahoma and Texas. He was also highly sought after for his experience in working on high voltage projects, which included the Dallas Area Rapid Transportation (DART), Southern Methodist University, and UT Southwestern.
While Dennis was an electrician by trade, he was a mechanical engineer at heart. There was nothing he couldn’t design and construct, and his family was in constant awe over the latest gadget or system he created. Almost everything he bought he modified to suit his own needs. In his early 30’s he built his own boat, complete with a 357 engine, and it was from this boat that his three children learned to swim, ski, and fish. Other notable projects Dennis made were a 10ft kite, a solar-powered automatic chicken coop door, his own travel trailer, an ultra high zip line, stilts that you had to get on by sitting on the edge of the roof, and many other inventions too numerous to mention.
Dennis engaged in a number of hobbies over the years, including flying radio-controlled airplanes, earning his pilot’s license at 31, bee-keeping, playing steel guitar, operating ham radios, and riding and racing motorcycles, which became a frequent family outing once he had taught all three of his children to ride. Dennis’ love for the outdoors was steadfast throughout his life. He was a lifetime gardener and some of his family’s most treasured memories are those that revolved around fishing, hunting, hiking, and camping at Lake Texoma and the southeast Oklahoma hills.
Dennis was preceded in death by his parents Melvin and Lois; brother Von Weaver; baby sister Sylvia Weaver; sister Linda (Weaver) McGuire; mother-in-law Geneva Jane Nelson Parker; brothers-in-law Glen Cravens, Gene Cravens, and Troy Cravens; sisters-in-law Rusty Millhollin, Joyce Westwood, and Betty Manos.
He is survived by his wife Lola of the home; children Dennis L. Weaver and wife Sherry of Durant, Oklahoma, Dana Kuykendall and husband Bill of Dallas, Texas, Diana Force and husband Bruce of Morris, Oklahoma; grandchildren Fallyn Weaver of Durant, Oklahoma, Matthew Weaver of Durant, Oklahoma, Andrew Weaver and partner Jessica Campo of Durant, Oklahoma, Billy Kuykendall and wife Whitney of Dallas, Texas, Erin Kuykendall of Austin, Texas, Jenna Kuykendall of Salem, Massachusetts, Victoria Force of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Abigail Force of Morris, Oklahoma, Kylie Force of Morris, Oklahoma; great-grandchildren Warren Weaver of Durant, Oklahoma, Elijah Weaver of Durant, Oklahoma; sisters Eunice Dickinson and husband Joe of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Jeannine Williams and husband Don of Denison, Texas, Marilyn Miears and husband Larry of Daingerfield, Texas; his brother Steve Weaver of Durant, Oklahoma; sister-in-law Houstine Weaver of Caddo, Oklahoma; brother-in-law Tom McGuire of Tulsa, Oklahoma as well as numerous very special nieces, nephews, and life-long friends, who counted knowing Dennis as a wonderfully unique experience.
The family is honoring Dennis’ wishes to be cremated and forego a formal viewing and funeral. However, at some point in the future, the family will host an event to honor his life and legacy and will notify family and friends as soon as a date and location is determined.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Dementia Society of America or the National Wildlife Refuge Association.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Centric Home Health and Hospice for their care of Dennis, and especially Stacy, Carman, and Carol Ann for their devoted care and friendship to Dennis, Lola, and family.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Gordon Funeral Home, 221 N. 3rd, Durant, PH- 580-916-9090, www.gordonfh.com.
Dennis was the second eldest son of Melvin Paul and Lois Vanita (Weger) Weaver of Durant. He was a 1958 graduate of Durant High School and attended Southeastern State College before pursuing a lifelong career as an electrician with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).
When Dennis was 19, he met his future wife Lola Mae Cravens at Sherrer’s Drive-In in Durant, and they married a year later on June 3. This past June marked their 61st wedding anniversary. Dennis’s career moved them from Armstrong to Dallas to McAlester and then finally back to Durant where they lived on the family block on S. 11th, later making their permanent home in Silo. Dennis commuted wherever his work took him, including Oklahoma City, Hugo, Texarkana, and Dallas.
As a journeyman electrician Dennis worked on IBEW projects across the region, including the Hugo power plant, Dallas high rises, prisons and hospitals in Oklahoma and Texas. He was also highly sought after for his experience in working on high voltage projects, which included the Dallas Area Rapid Transportation (DART), Southern Methodist University, and UT Southwestern.
While Dennis was an electrician by trade, he was a mechanical engineer at heart. There was nothing he couldn’t design and construct, and his family was in constant awe over the latest gadget or system he created. Almost everything he bought he modified to suit his own needs. In his early 30’s he built his own boat, complete with a 357 engine, and it was from this boat that his three children learned to swim, ski, and fish. Other notable projects Dennis made were a 10ft kite, a solar-powered automatic chicken coop door, his own travel trailer, an ultra high zip line, stilts that you had to get on by sitting on the edge of the roof, and many other inventions too numerous to mention.
Dennis engaged in a number of hobbies over the years, including flying radio-controlled airplanes, earning his pilot’s license at 31, bee-keeping, playing steel guitar, operating ham radios, and riding and racing motorcycles, which became a frequent family outing once he had taught all three of his children to ride. Dennis’ love for the outdoors was steadfast throughout his life. He was a lifetime gardener and some of his family’s most treasured memories are those that revolved around fishing, hunting, hiking, and camping at Lake Texoma and the southeast Oklahoma hills.
Dennis was preceded in death by his parents Melvin and Lois; brother Von Weaver; baby sister Sylvia Weaver; sister Linda (Weaver) McGuire; mother-in-law Geneva Jane Nelson Parker; brothers-in-law Glen Cravens, Gene Cravens, and Troy Cravens; sisters-in-law Rusty Millhollin, Joyce Westwood, and Betty Manos.
He is survived by his wife Lola of the home; children Dennis L. Weaver and wife Sherry of Durant, Oklahoma, Dana Kuykendall and husband Bill of Dallas, Texas, Diana Force and husband Bruce of Morris, Oklahoma; grandchildren Fallyn Weaver of Durant, Oklahoma, Matthew Weaver of Durant, Oklahoma, Andrew Weaver and partner Jessica Campo of Durant, Oklahoma, Billy Kuykendall and wife Whitney of Dallas, Texas, Erin Kuykendall of Austin, Texas, Jenna Kuykendall of Salem, Massachusetts, Victoria Force of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Abigail Force of Morris, Oklahoma, Kylie Force of Morris, Oklahoma; great-grandchildren Warren Weaver of Durant, Oklahoma, Elijah Weaver of Durant, Oklahoma; sisters Eunice Dickinson and husband Joe of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Jeannine Williams and husband Don of Denison, Texas, Marilyn Miears and husband Larry of Daingerfield, Texas; his brother Steve Weaver of Durant, Oklahoma; sister-in-law Houstine Weaver of Caddo, Oklahoma; brother-in-law Tom McGuire of Tulsa, Oklahoma as well as numerous very special nieces, nephews, and life-long friends, who counted knowing Dennis as a wonderfully unique experience.
The family is honoring Dennis’ wishes to be cremated and forego a formal viewing and funeral. However, at some point in the future, the family will host an event to honor his life and legacy and will notify family and friends as soon as a date and location is determined.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Dementia Society of America or the National Wildlife Refuge Association.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Centric Home Health and Hospice for their care of Dennis, and especially Stacy, Carman, and Carol Ann for their devoted care and friendship to Dennis, Lola, and family.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Gordon Funeral Home, 221 N. 3rd, Durant, PH- 580-916-9090, www.gordonfh.com.