Dale was born on October 29, 1926 to Ezra “Pete” and Mae Irene Deain in Pleasant Plains, Illinois.
Dale joined The United States Navy before he finished high school, and he would earn his GED through the Navy. He was a World War II Veteran, having served in the South Pacific.
After the Navy, Dale specialized as a jeweler. He was co-owner of Dale Rays Jewelry in Oklahoma City from 1950 to 1956. He helped to start up John Roberts Ring Manufacturing Co. in Norman. He led the design department at Lenox Inc. from 1973 to 1993. He was a very skilled jeweler, and had a skilled hand when it came to engraving jewelry. He even developed new alloys for ring manufacturing.
Dale loved to bowl, shoot archery, and golf, he even made a hole-in-one on two separate occasions. He won numerous bowling and archery trophies, he also served as the president of the Oklahoma State Archery Association. He enjoyed fishing, jigsaw puzzles, and bow and gun hunting.
He served as a deacon for First Baptist in Norman, and as a deacon for Barcelona Road Baptist Church in Hot Springs. He was a great role model for his children and grandchildren, who held a special place in his heart.
Dale is preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Mary Martha (Novak) Deain, his daughter Mary “Kathy” Deain Mays, his siblings: Everette Deain and his wife Thelma Wiley, Phyllis Wiley and her husband Skyler Wiley, Wayne Deain, Mary Jane Hudson, Robert P. Deain, and James Deain, his brother-in-law Vernon Hudson, his son-in-law Earl L. Kinard, and his daughter-in-law Cynthia Ann Wilkinson Deain.
Left to cherish his precious memory are his children: Shirley Kinard, and Dale “Dick” R. Deain, his son-in-law James Mays, his sister-in-law Della Ann Deain, 8 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren, his longtime friend and golfing buddy in Hot Springs, Bill Butcher, and his dear friend David Davidson in Slaughterville.
Visitation for Dale is Monday, February 6, 2023 8:00 AM up until the funeral service at 2:00 PM at Primrose Funeral Service, 1109 North Porter Ave, Norman, OK 73071. Casual attire is encouraged.
