Evelyn "Raydene" Dennis
Hobbs, New Mexico

Evelyn "Raydene" Bell Dennis of Hobbs, New Mexico passed away on Monday, March 10, 2008 at her home after a courageous five year battle with cancer. She was 71 years old.

Raydene was born September 23, 1936 in Douglas County, Missouri to the late Cecil Bell and Hazel (Pool) Bell Bushong.

Raydene married Clifford Dennis on October 2, 1957 in west Plains, Missouri. They moved to Hobbs, New Mexico in l960. The couple was blessed with two children, Evelyn and Cecil. She will be remembered as a devoted wife, mother, loving grandmother and loyal friend. Her faith and belief in God sustained her during her five year journey with cancer. She was a member of the Life Temple UPC Church.

Raydene will remain in the hearts of her husband of 50 years, Clifford Dennis; her children, daughter Evelyn O'Connell and son in-law Tim O'Connell of Midland, Texas, son, Cecil Dennis and daughter in-law, Cindy Dennis of Hobbs, New Mexico; her grandchildren, Brandon and Joshua Luck of Midland , Texas and Jessica Dennis of Hobbs, New Mexico. She is also survived by four sisters, Dorothy Curtis, Mayme Lambdin, Betty Souder all of Missouri, and Virgie Himioben of Georgia and one brother, Melvin Bushong of Missouri.

She was preceded in death by her father Cecil Bell l940; mother Hazel Pool Bell Bushong l9l84; stepfather, Orville Bushong 2001, two sisters, Bernice Walker and Leatha Kirkpatrick of Missouri and four brothers, Marvin Bushong, Buck Bushong and Ben Bushong of Missouri and Loin Bushong of Illinois, grandparents, Maggie Hicks Pool 1970 and George Pool l957, Vianna Loveall Bell l971 and C.C. Lum Bell l983.

"Gone from our sight, but never our memories…Gone from our touch, but never our hearts".

Funeral service will be 10:00 A.M. Thursday, March 13, 2008 at Chapel of Hope Funeral Home, 3321 N. Dal Paso, Hobbs, N.M., with Pastor Wilbur Boone, Pastor Jason Tippy and Pastor Wayne Villar officiating, with visitation Wed. 2 to 8, family will greet friends from 6 to 8, March 12, 2008.
A second funeral service will be conducted at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, 408 NE 5th Street, Ava, Missouri, at 10:00 A.M., Monday, March 17, 2008 with a visitation Sunday, 4 to 6 P.M. Memorials may be made to LCUSBC-WBE scholarship fund, C/O Bel Air Bowling Alley, 1321 Cimmaron, Hobbs, NM 88240 or M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210.