Gerald Leon Dennis

Gerald Leon Dennis, born in Houston Texas, February 27,1943 passed on September 25,2022. Gerald Leon Dennis passed on to eternal life surrounded by his family at his home in Richmond, Texas after a courageous battle with cancer.

Survived by is loving wife of 58 years, Jeanne Richards Dennis; sons Gregory Scott Dennis and wife Molly Trahan Dennis, and John Leon Dennis and wife Lisa Renee Pesz Dennis; daughter Hilary Dennis Kanarellis and husband Jason Michael. His grandchildren, Ashley Dennis Black and husband Austin Ryan, Bryce Redner Dennis, Brantlund Richards Goynes, Gregory- Anne Worthington Goynes and great grandson Grayson James Black. His brother Doyle Poppell and sister Tanya Rackmans.

The son of a military family Gerald lived in Houston, Texas, Dothan, Alabama, Columbus, Georgia, and Tacoma, Washington before moving to Germany for many years. When life needed structure he joined the United States Marine Corp at the age of 18. He was sent to basic training in San Diego, California but found that a hand injury would keep him from active duty.

He married the love of his life on November 1, 1963 and celebrated just short of a wonderful 59 years. They moved back to Houston and started a family. He spent the bulk of his career riding the roller coaster that is the oil and gas industry in Texas. He sold oil field services for a number of different companies throughout the years before starting his own company, Fluid Products in Corpus Christi, Texas in 1981. After another oil crash in the last 80's he decided it was time to leave the oil and gas industry behind and moved to real estate investment. This proved to be a decision that would keep him busy for the next 30 years.

Gerald was an active member of Kingsland Baptist Church in Katy, Texas for 35 years. He held a deacon position for many years and had a true passion for sharing the word of Christ to those who would listen and even more so to those who would not. A true warrior, he was responsible for untold numbers brought to the light of Christ. He loved people, all people, he wanted to know you and to make sure that you knew Christ.

His pride and joy was his family. Three children, Greg, John and Hilary would result in four grandchildren, Ashlee, Bryce, Brantlund, Gregory- Anne and one great grandson, Grayson. He spent many an afternoon or a whole weekend watching baseball, football, volleyball, dance, diving and Lacrosse. He never missed an opportunity to spend time with family and was always the proponent of large get togethers regardless of the occasion. An avid Outdoorsman he enjoyed a lifetime of hunting and fishing in Texas, Colorado and Alaska. Many a weekend was spent in Rockport with family sharing his knowledge and experience of fishing and a little bit of sailing. He was a true lover of the sea.

Jan and Gerald always found time for travel and would celebrate every anniversary where they first met in New Orleans, Louisiana. It would be a rarity to find someplace that Gerald could not find joy in. So many wonderful trips with friends was one of the many joys in his life. They enjoyed trips to the east in the fall, New Mexico and Colorado in both summer and winter and were always up for a Texas road trip, especially if barbecue was involved. You can't write a true tribute to Gerald without discussing his love of food, all food. Most every year the family would go to Colorado for Christmas. It wasn't until much later in life that the children realized it doesn't really take two full days to get to Colorado, especially if you don't stop every hour to see what the little family restaurant has to offer. Gerald's rule of travel, it is totally acceptable to travel an hour off route if good barbecue is involved. This rule applies to any trip over one hour long.

The family would like to thank the teams of doctors and nurses at MD Anderson for their care and support throughout his battle. A special thank you to the incredible nurses that cared for him at his home in his final days. These individuals were a true blessing for Gerald and the entire family.