03/31/2026
Dennis Lee Hodges
THE LIFE OF DENNIS LEE HODGES AS WRITTEN BY HIMSELF
Well, I know if someone is reading this, I am no longer on this earth but instead standing at Heavens Gates with my wrenches, a shop rag in my back pocket, and a toolbox at my side. I decided to write my own story as no one knows more about me than myself.
I was born Dennis Lee Hodges, on January 13, 1943, to Jim and Marie (Dunlap) Hodges. I was delivered by Dr Riddle in the back bedroom of our home for $25.00. My mother always told the story that she was in labor for 3 days and Doc Riddle kept telling my dad that when the apple was ripe, it would fall off the tree!
As a child I played in the field on Hwy 51B next to the family home and barn. I had 2 dogs named Pouch and Hound. They went everywhere with me. Mom would look out in the field for me and if she saw the dog’s tail in the air, she knew I was there also. I was probably only about 3 years old. When I was 6 years old up to about 13, I spent the summers in the Choska bottoms helping my Uncle Herbert and Aunt Ruby Claxton on their farm. I made $5.00 a day, and room and board. I slept on a pallet in front of the door to get the night breeze. We were up at sun-up and Uncle Herbert would put me on a 50 model 8N Ford tractor, give me a jug of water and I would work all day until Aunt Ruby had lunch or dinner ready. I drove his 46-model jeep, which had no brakes, with a sickle mower to mow hay. After the hay cured, I raked it. At 7 years old, I drove the Ford tractor pulling a baler to Porter to leave the baler for repairs. He told me to go on ahead and he’d pick me up later. In the fall, we would pick corn and feed the pigs. I got to drive a 1953 Jubilee tractor that time. I would come home on Saturday mornings to go to town and see my folks. Saturdays were a big day in town back then. Everyone came to town for a 2 o’clock drawing. Each merchant would donate money or merchandise to be given away. Mom and Grandma Dunlap would take my tricycle to town, and I would ride on the sidewalk in front of Boldings Grocery Store while they shopped. Uncle Herbert brought anything that needed to be repaired to town as did all the other farmers. My folks would return me to the farm on Sunday evening.
I attended Coweta Public Schools all twelve years graduating in 1961. I played in the band from grade school thru my Sr year. I was an office assistant in High School and also drove the school bus picking up kids on the rural route. I remember that my best buddy, Larry Joe Trower, and I would go to Maryann’s Cafe every morning before school and have hot coconut cream pie and a glass of milk. This was after breakfast at home! I was offered a music scholarship to attend Northeastern State but instead I enrolled at OSU Okmulgee in Diesel Tech. Graduating in 1963. I then joined the Air National Guard, 138th Transportation Group and was based at the Tulsa Airport. I was an aircraft engine mechanic, serving 6 years as rank of Sgt.
After graduating tech school in 1963, I accepted a job in Tulsa at Detroit Diesel as a field service technician. I was employed there until 1976, when I ventured out on my own and established Independent Diesel Service. In 1982, I built a new shop in Coweta working on trucks, heavy equipment, drilling rigs, fire trucks, tractors and a lot of tugboats on the river canal for the port. I have been known as a “diesel dinosaur”. I worked in the Coweta shop with my son, Chad, for many years. I had the opportunity in 1978 to go to Daytona Florida, to test run and experimental engine that ran on 7 elements of the air. It was an awesome experience; however, the government would not allow it to be built as it was a thermal nuclear fusion or cold fusion engine.
While working at Detroit Diesel, I had a good friend, Ed Bush. He approached me and said his apartment complex was having a Halloween party on Saturday. Would I please come so he could introduce me to his neighbor. He said she had a broke down old car that he was tired of working on. So, on October 31, 1972, I went to check out this girl. I met Jeannie Stewart that night and we sat for hours and talked and I was immediately smitten. Our first date was to the Tulsa airport restaurant to watch the planes come in and take off. We took her daughter, Kerri, with us, which really racked up some brownie points! By Thanksgiving we were in love and at Christmas we told our families we were getting married. This of course, only after SHE proposed to me! But I knew in my heart I would do the same. We began to look for a home as I lived in Broken Arrow with my roommates and she lived in an apartment in Tulsa. We didn’t want to live in either location. We found a home in Broken Arrow and applied for a loan together. In those days you had to be married to close on a loan, so the bank called, said you are approved, go get married, we close on Monday. On Friday, February 23, 1973, we got married in the chapel of the Christ Methodist Church. This began the rest of my life with my best friend. We went to Queen Wilamena State Park for our honeymoon. Arriving with no reservation, there were no rooms left except for one. It had no heat. I told the desk clerk, we just got married and if she can’t keep me warm, I’ll send her back to her mother!! We got the room free of charge, and they brought us a space heater. We try to go back each year for dinner. The lodge has been rebuilt since it burned the year after we got married.
We have enjoyed camping, fishing, and laying on the beach in Florida, and a little casino hopping. Jeannie had never been out of Oklahoma, so we have ventured to many states doing genealogy work on both families, hunting treasures in junk yards in Colorado and rode a motorcycle to New Mexico.
We especially enjoyed camping with the kids in Noel, Missouri and floating the river. Jeannie, Chad and I would fish and catch ad many as 50 crappie, fry them up and eat all of them. Kerri, however, would eat a hamburger at the concession stand.
In 2005, I was diagnosed with stage 4 Lymphoma. I had a year of chemotherapy and have been a survivor for years. It never occurred to me or my family that I would not survive. Our faith in God saw us thru it all. I never experienced a sick day and continued to work every day.
I grew up as a child in the Presbyterian Church which is now Mission Bell Museum. We moved to the Methodist Church when our little church closed where I am still a member.
Dennis is survived by his loving wife Jeannie of 53 years, one son Chad Hodges and wife Jan, one daughter Kerri Wade and husband Mike, grandchildren Jennifer Smith and Husband Shawn, Ty Wade, Claire Wales and husband Sam, Rush Hodges, 2 great grandchildren Rocky Collins and wife Jesse, Ozzy Collins, 1 great-great granddaughter Jane Marie Collins, and several cousins in Coweta and Wagoner.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Dennis to the First United Methodist Church Lawn Care Program, 206 W. Sycamore Street, Coweta, OK 74429.
A memorial service celebrating the life of Dennis will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2026, at the First United Methodist Church in Coweta, OK with Rev. David Commer officiating.
Family and friends may share memories online at www.brownfamilycares.com. The family of Dennis Lee Hodges entrusted his care, cremation, and service to Brown’s Funeral & Cremation Service, 210 S. Broadway, Coweta, OK 74429, 918-486-5515.
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