Donald "Don" Dean

Donald “Don” Dean, 91, of Wann, died Wednesday, December 13, 2023, in Bartlesville. Don, as he was known, was born the third of ten children to Levi David and Grace Eleanor (Hawk) Dean on April 29, 1932, in Wann, OK. He was raised in the area, attending Wann schools where he was active in school sports. Don graduated with the class of 1950 and went on to Coffeyville Community College on a sports scholarship. He entered the U.S. Army and served in Korea from 1952 to 1954. While away he exchanged weekly letters with Delores Ann Drews, a young lady from Lenapah. Those letters were so important to him, even in his later years. Once home, they united in marriage at the South Coffeyville Methodist Church on October 23, 1954. Delores preceded him in death in 2022 after 68 years of loving marriage. Don started his working life as a machinist with Wheatley’s Valve in Caney for several years. His true passion was training bird dogs and he went into training full time. He trained dogs throughout the United States and even to Canada and Mexico. He organized field trials for local hunters to showcase their hunting dogs and mentored many hunters along the way. Quail and pheasant hunting is what he loved and enjoyed the 60 plus years he trained his bird dogs for that purpose. His greatest accomplishment was training dogs for Phillips with annual trips to Stony Island, NY. Don and Delores enjoyed working together in the yard, putting in a big garden. They also loved taking long drives. His children called him the “Lawn Ranger.” He loved to mow not only his yards but also sometimes his neighbors. He mowed for the city of Wann, keeping Wann Beautiful. Don saved the best of himself for his grandkids and enjoyed spending time with them and loving on them. They knew that when they were with him, they were getting the best part of him. He lived his dream and always said, “I have no regrets.” Don is survived by his four children, Linda Hendricks of Wann, Okla., Donna Howerton and husband Spike of Lenapah, Okla., Nancy Petty and husband Don of Oologah, Okla., and Mike Dean and wife Sandra of Wann, Okla.; eight grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; and siblings, Jerry Dean and Sue Phillips. He is preceded in death by his parents; loving wife, Delores; and siblings, Jack, Treva, William, John, Early, Clara and Joyce. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Don’s memory to The Journey Home, 900 NE Washington Blvd., Bartlesville, OK 74006. Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, December 30, 2023, at the Davis Family Funeral Home & Crematory – Walker Brown Chapel. Services are under the direction of Carter Davis and the Davis Family Funeral Home & Crematory – Walker Brown Chapel. Online condolences and remembrances may be shared at www.DavisFamilyFuneralHome.com.

Donald "Don" Dean

April 29, 1932 - December 13, 2023