Dennis Eugene Foyil

Dennis Eugene Foyil spent years proudly carrying his PRCA card. On Saturday, September 19, 2026, the Lord called him home, welcoming him into Heaven and into the company of cowboys who had ridden on before him. Dennis rode through Heaven’s gate the way a cowboy should, sitting tall in the saddle, his feet firmly in the stirrups and the reins held gently in his hands. There, Dennis joined one final association, the Heavenly Cowboys Association.

Dennis was a cowboy’s cowboy. He was loving and kind to everyone he met, generous and loyal, with a charisma, spunk and contagious spirit that drew people to him. He was a hard worker, a true friend and the kind of man who never met a stranger.

Dennis was lovingly welcomed as the second child of Gene and Debbie Foyil on February 28, 1979. He was the perfect baby brother to his big sister, April. Five years later, Dennis was promoted to big brother when his brother, Nathan, was born.

Horses, cattle, and the western way of life were part of Dennis’s story for as long as he could remember. His parents owned a feed store, so he grew up surrounded by livestock. His dad bought and sold horses, his sister barrel raced and together Dennis and Nathan rode roughstock. Ranching and rodeo were not something Dennis discovered later in life. They were simply how he was raised.

The Foyil family became members of the Edmond Round Up Club, and before long, nearly every weekend was spent at a rodeo. Watching the competition lit a fire in Dennis. His dad first put him on a few steers at a team roping, but it was while watching the National Finals Rodeo on television that Dennis knew exactly what he wanted to do. He wanted to be a roughstock rider.

Every day after school, Dennis and Nathan would feed horses, ride horses, and then spend hours on the bucking barrel. Looking back on those days, Dennis said, “Those long afternoons taught me discipline, determination, and the value of hard work.”

Dennis’s talent carried him to the highest levels of the sport. In 1999, he was crowned the National High School Bareback Riding Champion before continuing his rodeo career on scholarship at Southwestern Oklahoma State University as a member of the Bulldog Rodeo Team.

From 1999 through 2005, Dennis competed as a member of the highly esteemed Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. His accomplishments included a 2001 Cheyenne Frontier Days Go-Round win, three consecutive PRCA Prairie Circuit Bareback Riding Championships from 2001 through 2003, and back-to-back 89er Days Rodeo Bareback Riding Championships in 2002 and 2003.

Beyond the rodeo arena, Dennis loved to fish and hunt. More than anything, he loved his family and his friends deeply. From an early age, Dennis knew the love of Jesus Christ and accepted Him as his personal Lord and Savior. His faith remained an important part of who he was and gives those who loved him comfort in knowing that he is now home.

Dennis is survived by his parents, Gene and Debbie Foyil of Guthrie, Oklahoma; his sister, April Bortmess and husband Tyler of Edmond, Oklahoma; his brother, Nathan Foyil of Guthrie, Oklahoma; and his three nephews, Cooper Bortmess, Baylor Bortmess, and Copeland Foyil. He is also survived by his aunts and uncles, Sheila Carlton, Linda Sue Reyes, and Steve Inge.

Dennis was welcomed into his heavenly home by his beloved grandparents, Manuel Foyil, Delora Wright-Foyil, John Harrison Inge, and Doris Marie Anderson-Inge; and his aunts and uncles, Joy Foyil, Steve Foyil, Ronnie Frowein, Ann Barker, and John David Inge.

On September 19th, Dennis’s earthly journey came to an end, and the faith he had carried since childhood took him home. And as Heaven’s gate opened, one can only imagine his Lord and Savior waiting to welcome him:

“Welcome home, Cowboy.”

A Celebration of Dennis’ life will be held Thursday, October 1, 2026 at the Choctaw Road Baptist Church. The service will begin at 10:30 a.m. In Lieu of flowers the family wishes donations to be made to Cowboys Helping Cowboys Charity Events. Contributions may be made in Dennis’s name at CowboysHelpingCowboys.com