Ira William Dees

Graveside services for Ira William “Dub” Dees will be held on Tuesday, October 4th, 2016 at 1:00 PM at Ft. Gibson National Cemetery with Pastor Mathew Lawrence officiating. Visitation will be held on Monday, October 3rd, 2016 from noon until 6:00 PM at Reed-Culver Chapel. Online condolences for his family may be left at www.reedculver.com.

Ira William Dees, or Dub to his many friends and colleagues, was born on Christmas Eve 1929, the son of Ardmore and Iris (Sparks) Dees, in Alvarado, TX. He was raised in a bustling household of three brothers and two sisters. He attended school in Kyle, TX and upon graduating, enlisted into the US Army, where he attained the rank of Master Sargeant, during the Korean War. He was on the 634th fire battery , firing the howitzers, earning the Bronze Star, two bronze Service Stars, UN Service Medal, Korean and National Defense medals. He was honorably discharged in April of 1957 at Ft. Hood, TX. On September 3rd, 1954, he married his sweetheart, Lorene Norseworthy in Lawton, OK. This union was blessed with two children, a son, Terry and a daughter, Sharon. Dub would dedicate the remainder of his working career to the Texas Department of Public Safety, beginning as a rookie and retiring as a Major, Regional Commander for the Texas Highway Patrol. He was dedicated, loyal, and did it all by the book. When he had a little time, Dub loved to go fishing. He liked hitching up the airstream and exploring the countryside accompanied by his best friend, Lorene. He was happy just to sit back in his chair and watch his favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys play football. Most of all, he loved any chance he had to spend time with his grandkids, they were the best! He liked to tease them and just be around those he loved. He retired and moved with Lorene to Cookson, OK, where her family lived close by. His health began to fade, and he went to his eternal rest on Thursday, September 29, 2016, at his home in Cookson. He was 86 years old. He will be missed by all his family and those lucky enough to call him friend.

He is preceded in death by his mother and father and two brothers, Milton and Alfred Dees.

Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife of 62 years, Lorene Dees of the home in Cookson, and his two children, Terry Dees and wife Dorothy of Springtown, TX, and Sharon Alexander and husband Quinn of Canyon, TX. He leaves one brother and two sisters, Geneva Wolfe and husband Roy of Round Rock, TX, Doris Shoemaker of Nacogdoches, TX and James Carroll Dees of Lockhart, TX. Dub lives on in his four grandchildren, Michael Dees and David Dees and wife Ginny all of Georgetown, TX, Alison Alexander of Lubbock, TX and Adam Alexander of Canyon, TX.

His great grandchildren are Shelby Dees, Evalyn Dees, Jacob Dees, Olivia Dees, and Adaline Dees, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and loved ones.