Mar 13, 2008

Evelyn “Raydene” Bell Dennis, of Hobbs, N.M., 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 Sept. 23, 1936 in Douglas County, to the late Cecil Bell and Hazel (Pool) Bell Bushong. Raydene married Clifford Dennis on Oct. 2, 1957 in West Plains. They moved to Hobbs, N.M. 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 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, N.M.; her grandchildren, Brandon and Joshua Luck, of Midland, Texas, and Jessica Dennis, of Hobbs, N.M. She is also survived by four sisters, Dorothy Curtis, Mayme Lambdin, and 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, in l940; mother, Hazel Pool Bell Bushong in l984; and stepfather, Orville Bushong in 2001. Also preceding her in death were two sisters, Bernice Walker and Leatha Kirkpatrick, of Missouri; four brothers, Marvin Bushong, Buck Bushong and Ben Bushong, of Missouri, and Loyn Bushong, of Illinois; grandparents, Maggie Hicks Pool and George Pool, Vianna Loveall Bell, and C.C. Lum Bell. Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Thursday, March 13, at Chapel of Hope Funeral Home, Hobbs, N.M., with Pastor Wilbur Boone, Pastor Jason Tippy and Pastor Wayne Villar officiating. A second funeral service will be conducted at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, at 10 a.m. Monday, March 17, with a visitation Sunday, from 4 to 6 p.m. Pastor Wilbur Boone and Bro. Max Stephens will officiate at the service here, with burial to follow in Pleasant Home Cemetery. 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. On-line condolences may be made to www.clinkingbeard funeralhome.com.