Obituary of Gentry Dennis North

Gentry Dennis North, known as Dennis by family and friends, was born October 23, 1938, at Macks Creek, MO, the son of Leonard and Velva North.

Dennis enlisted in the U.S. Army out of high school and served mostly in Panama.  After his service, he returned to Camdenton and worked for Kermit Lewis, wiring Windermere.

On August 10, 1959, he married Nancy Burns, and they spent 63 years together before his passing on July 2, 2023.

In 1961, Dennis went to work as an electrical lineman on construction and traveled where the work was until 1969 when he and his family settled back home in Camdenton.  He worked for Bell Telephone, Sho-Me Power, and Laclede Electric until he retired. 

At the same time, Dennis was preaching the Gospel in many churches in Camden and Hickory County.  He baptized 145 people over the years, preached many funerals, and performed numerous weddings.

From 2009 to 2013, Dennis served as mayor of the City of Camdenton. He loved being a leader in his community.  He had a servant’s heart.

Dennis never met a stranger and enjoyed people everywhere he went.  If you knew Dennis, then he considered you to be his friend.  He was a big favorite with his many cousins, the life of the party.  His laughter was well known, and many times people would be sitting inside a church and hear him laughing before he got through the doors, saying, “Here comes Dennis!”

An avid fisherman and horseman, Dennis was in his element in either a fishing boat or a team-roping arena.  He loved a good mess of crappie and a smart, fast horse. 

He was preceded in death by his parents Leonard and Velva North, his brother Denzil North, his sister Pat Morgan, his nephew Ron North, and two great-grandsons, Gabriel Joseph and Alexander Prentice. 

Dennis is survived by his wife of 63 years, Nancy; two daughters, Deanna Martin and husband Tom, and Lisa Jackson and husband Jack; six grandchildren, Johnna Joseph and husband Micah, Luke Martin and fiancée Juniper Jackson, Debbie Jackson, Ashley Jackson, Merissa Jackson, and Paul Jackson and fiancée Donna Riffle; five great-grandchildren, Mikayla Joseph, Matthew Joseph, Daniel Joseph, Chloe Prentice, and Mateo Jackson.

The best husband, Dad, Grandpa, Great-Grandpa, and a man of God.  That was Dennis.  We will miss him.

Services will be held at 2:00 pm,  Thursday, July 6, 2023 at Hedges-Scott Funeral Home in Camdenton, Missouri.  The family will welcome friends for visitation from 12:00-2:00 pm prior to services at the funeral home.