Dennis Ray Fine, 89, passed away (12-22-2023) at Via Christi Village in Ponca City, Oklahoma. Dennis was born May 25, 1934, to William and Klois Fine in Mannsville, Oklahoma.

Dennis is preceded in death by his wife of 60 years Mickey Fine. Surviving are his daughter Lynn Goodale of Ponca City and her husband Mike and their two children, Emily and her husband Ryan Trout of Jenks and Christa and her husband Raul Hernandez of Cuernavaca, Mexico; and Dennis’ great granddaughters Molly and Kylee Trout and Allie and Olivia Hernandez; a son Mark Fine of Ponca City; a sister in law Anita and Bobby Logan of Taloga, Oklahoma and their daughter Tammy and her husband Steve Loveless of Tulsa; a nephew Joe Tipton of Hobart, OK.

Dennis completed his early school years and graduated from Hobart High School in 1952. He served in the United States Navy from 1953-57. In the Navy, Dennis became one of the first Frogmen. This was an elite group of scuba divers who trained in a tactical capacity. UDT or Underwater Demolition Teams were pioneers in underwater demolition, combat swimming operations, and commando training, making them the forerunner to the Navy Seals program which exists today. After his Honorable Discharge from the Navy in 1957, Dennis returned to Southwestern Oklahoma University on a football scholarship. It was here that Dennis met and married Mickey Gore on June 1, 1958.

Dennis graduated with a Bachelor of Education degree in 1960. In 1962, he completed a Master’s Degree in Mathematics from SWOSU.

In the fall of 1962 Dennis became the football and girls’ basketball coach in Lone Wolf, Oklahoma.

From 1967-70, Dennis coached and taught at Grandfield, Oklahoma. The 1970-71 school year was in Caldwell, Kansas.

In 1971, Dennis moved his family to Erick, Oklahoma to continue his coaching career in football, track and girls’ basketball. In 1977, Dennis coached the girls’ basketball team to a State Championship. Dennis was also chosen to coach the West All-State Girls Basketball team that year.

From Erick Dennis moved his family to Fairfax, Oklahoma to begin the 1977-78 school year. In Fairfax he coached football, girls’ basketball and track.

In 1983, Dennis made his last move to coach girls’ basketball at Tuttle, Oklahoma, where he retired from coaching and teaching in 1986.

Dennis was inducted into the Oklahoma Girls Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1995.

After retiring Dennis enjoyed building things, gardening and spending time with Mark and Lynn.

Memorial donations may be made to the Special Olympics, c/o Shaw Funeral Home, P.O. Box 276, Vici, OK 73859.

Services were held on Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Mound Cemetery. Condolences may be made to the family at shawfuneralhome. net. Shaw Funeral Home of Taloga

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