Leon Dennis
January 8, 1941 - April 10, 2025
Services for Marvin Leon Dennis, 84, of Ada, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 18, 2025, at Westside Church of Christ in Norman. Mr. Brett McKnight will officiate. The graveside service will be held at 3:00 p.m. at Memorial Park Cemetery in Ada with Mr. David Dirrim officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Thursday at Criswell Funeral Home in Ada. Mr. Dennis passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Tulsa.
Leon was born in Clayton, OK in 1941 and spent his entire life living in Oklahoma. Leon grew up on a farm near Tishomingo. He moved with his family to Milburn, OK at the age of 13 and graduated from high school in Milburn, OK in 1959. Leon was married to Nell Dean Woods in 1962 and they enjoyed a wonderful marriage of over 58 years. Leon and Nell raised two wonderful sons both of whom are medical doctors. They were also blessed with two wonderful daughters-in-law and seven grandchildren.
Leon began preaching at the age of 16 and worked as a pulpit minister for over 50 years. Leon completed a bachelor's degree in Bible and Speech at Oklahoma Christian College in 1963; a Master's Degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Oklahoma in 1970; a year of Post Baccalaureate training in Language Arts and Teacher Education from East Central University, and additional graduate work in counseling at Oklahoma University. Leon earned a National Counseling Certification through NBCC. He also completed individual certification programs in Parenting, Bereavement, Anger Management, and Depression Management. Leon worked part time as a family counselor along with his preaching duties from 1970 to 2010 and continued working part time as a counselor following retirement. Leon and Nell spent over 50 years working as a preacher and preacher's wife. Most of those years were spent with the Westside congregation in Norman, OK. He retired from Westside after serving over 40 years and retired completely from ministry at age 75.
Leon and his wife Nell raised two wonderful sons, and have two wonderful daughters-in-law, Bruce and his wife Sheri and Brent and his wife Laura. Both boys are medical doctors. Leon and Nell have a total of seven grandchildren, Zachary Dennis and wife Lavon, Holly Farrar and husband Casey, Zane Dennis, Coleman Dennis and wife Jocelyn, Ethan Dennis, Ryan Dennis, and Abby Dennis; and five great-grandchildren, Lawson Dennis, Graham Dennis, Hudson Farrar, Ian Dennis, and Margot Dennis. He is also survived by two sisters, Joyce Wood and her husband Terry and Linda Daffin and her husband Bo; and sister-in-law, Marva Jo Dennis. He leaves a multitude of friends and relatives and a special church family of brothers and sisters all over the world.
Leon was preceded in death by both of his parents, Marvin and Vera Dennis; older sister, Venita Lunsford; and a younger brother, Ronnie Dennis.
Bearers will be Paul Crawford, Greg Giltner, Dusty Dennis, Charles Hudson, Dub Borders, Mark Coleman, Roger Cosby, and Tony Graham.
Send Flowers: When Is the Ordering Deadline?
ANY DAY OF THE WEEK
Order any time up till the day before
MON-FRI Order by 2:00PM
SAT & SUN Order by noon
TUES-SAT
Order by 3:00PM
The day before
SAT & SUN Order by Saturday
Note: These are general guidelines; some florists may not be able to operate within these timelines. During peak periods such as Valentine’s Day, Memorial Day and most holidays, florists are not always able to keep up to demand. Tribute will contact you if there are any issues.
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Send Flowers: When Is the Ordering Deadline?
ANY DAY OF THE WEEK
Order any time up till the day before
MON-FRI Order by 2:00PM
SAT & SUN Order by noon
TUES-SAT
Order by 3:00PM
The day before
SAT & SUN Order by Saturday
Note: These are general guidelines; some florists may not be able to operate within these timelines. During peak periods such as Valentine’s Day, Memorial Day and most holidays, florists are not always able to keep up to demand. Tribute will contact you if there are any issues.
Plant a tree: How does it work
When your purchase is complete, a post will be made on the tribute wall of the deceased signifying the planting of a memorial tree.
An official certificate recognizing your purchase will be included with your email receipt. You can then forward the email to the family or print it and give it to them personally.
After an order is placed, our forestry partners will plant the tree in the area of greatest need (nearest the funeral home), according to the planting schedule for the year.
Due to seasonal conditions, the tree planting takes place during the spring and summer.
Tree Planting Timeline
Orders placed in:
January - May
Planting will take place in Spring or Summer of the same year.
June - December
Planting will take place in Spring of the following year.
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