Dennis Gary Lovell Sr.

Dennis Gary Lovell, Sr., 89, passed away on November 22, 2022, in Salem, Oregon.

Dennis was born on January 2, 1933, in St. Mary’s, Georgia to Rufus and Mildred (Bowen) Lovell. Dennis graduated from Camden County High School (Wildcats) in 1950. He was a staple of this community for all but the 4 years he spent honorably serving in the United States Coast Guard. He was proud to have served his country on the CGC White Sumac sailing the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. He achieved the rank of EN2 before being honorably discharged.

Dennis was delighted to raise his children in St. Mary’s where they were members of the First Baptist Church. Dennis was a dedicated little league coach for his son’s team for many years. He loved to fish, play bingo, and slot machines in Biloxi, MS.

In 1998, Dennis retired from his position as a lab technician at Gilman Paper Company. Previously he had worked as a commercial shrimper, home builder, postman, and dispatcher for the St. Marys Police Department. After retirement, he worked as a taxi driver and a hotel handyman.

After the passing of his wife, Mary Helen in 2021, Dennis briefly resided with his son Gary and daughter-in-law Alicia on Sullivans Island, South Carolina. He spent his final months residing with his daughter Sara Sullivan, son-in-law John (Sully) Sullivan, and grandsons, Simon and Sawyer in Salem, Oregon.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Mary Helen Coffee, daughter, Vanessa Lovell, step-son Tim Abbott, first wife, Judith Carol Lovell, and siblings, Marie Hunt, Melvin Lovell, Raymond Lovell, and Nancy Stores.

He is survived by his sibling, Eunice Lovell, children; Dennis Gary Lovell, Jr. (Alicia), Sara Lee Lovell Sullivan (John), Cara Hampton, and Truth Garrett (George), and grandchildren; Alexandria Lovell, Juliette Lovell, Simon Sullivan, Sawyer Sullivan, Robbie Hampton, Destinie Hampton, Jaylen Hampton, Breanna Garrett, Jordan Garrett, and Erica Welch; great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, and other family members.

His final resting place will be with his parents, daughter, Vanessa, and siblings in the Lovell family plot in Oak Grove Cemetery in St. Mary’s, Georgia, an 89-year journey ending a few blocks from his birthplace on Wheeler Street.