Dean Olive Reynolds

Dean passed away at home on September 13th at 85 years old. It's never easy to say goodbye to someone we love. There really aren't enough words to describe the emptiness we feel when someone like Dean is no longer here. But today isn't just about saying goodbye. It's about remembering Dean. It's about remembering the man he was, the love he gave, the lives he touched, and all the memories he left behind.
Dean was born in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, on January 25, 1941. He enjoyed the simple things in life--fishing, hunting, and baseball. And if you knew Dean, you probably knew he was a lifelong Los Angeles Dodgers fan. But as much as Dean enjoyed those things, they weren't what mattered most to him. What mattered most was his family. His wife, Joyce, whom he loved for 59 years. His sons, Steve and Mike. His daughter, Sandy. His grandchildren, Cheyanne, Dustin, Tanner, and Luke. His great-grandchildren. His brother Roger and sister Rachel. His nieces and nephews. His friends and coworkers.
Family meant everything to Dean. And Dean had a way of making people feel like family. He was the person you could call when you needed help. It didn't matter if it was something big or something small. Maybe your car needed fixing. Maybe something around the house wasn't working. Maybe you just needed someone to lend a hand. You called Dean. And most of the time, he never said no. That's just who he was. He helped people because he cared about them. He didn't need recognition, and he didn't expect anything in return. If someone he loved needed him, Dean was there. And I think that says a lot about the kind of man he was.
Dean was preceded in death by his loving wife of 59 years, Joyce; his daughter, Sandy; and his grandson, Dylan.
I know those losses were a part of Dean's life, and I know he carried their memories and his love for them with him.
Dean is survived by his sons, Steve and Mike; his brother, Roger; his sister, Rachel; his grandchildren, Cheyanne and her husband Remington, Tanner and his wife Brittany, Dustin and wife Jacee, Luke, Garrett, Robbie Samual and Cassidy; his great-grandchildren, Cain, Cash, Weston, Starlie, Colton and Paisly; and so many other family members and friends who loved him.
But when I think about Dean, I don't just think about the people he leaves behind. I think about the people he helped. The people he encouraged. The people he made laugh. The people who knew that if they needed something, Dean would be there. That's the kind of impact a person can have without even realizing it.
Dean was special. Dean mattered. And Dean was here.
He was here, and he made a difference in our lives.
I especially admired the way Dean cared for other people. He showed his love through what he did. He was dependable. He was generous with his time. And he was always willing to help. Those are the things we will remember. We'll remember his stories. We'll remember his sense of humor. We'll remember the times he helped us. We'll remember the conversations, the good times, and even the ordinary moments that we probably didn't realize were so special at the time. And someday, those ordinary moments may be the memories we treasure the most.
I know Dean will be missed. He will be missed by his family. He will be missed by his friends. He will be missed by the people who worked with him. And he will be missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.
But even though Dean is no longer here with us, the love he gave us doesn't disappear. The help he gave us doesn't disappear. The memories don't disappear. A part of Dean stays with every person whose life he touched.
Graveside Memorial Service will be held on Monday, Sep 21 from 11:00 AM at Green Hill North Commital Center 400 East Teel Road, Sapulpa.
Arrangements are in the care of Green Hill Funeral Home.