John Dennison

John was born on August 11, 1950 in Liberty, TX to Roy Emanuel Dennison and Vera Lavona (Dawson) Dennison.  He married the love of his life, Sheila Marie (Hunt) Dennison, of La Porte, TX, at Bayshore Baptist on January 29, 1971, and together they showed us how to love and raise a wonderful family.

He goes to join the Lord and loved ones that have already joined Him in heaven; his sister-in-law, Jannelle Dennison, his father/mother, Roy and Vera Dennison, father/mother-in-law, Ray and Jeanette Hunt, and first born son, Chad Emanuel Dennison.

John was baptized and raised up knowing his savior in the First Baptist Church of Liberty.  He was faithful to God, and felt closest to Him in the outdoors.  He enjoyed being a Boy Scout and traveled to the National Boy Scout Jamboree by train when he was about 13 years old by himself, which could explain why he was so independent minded. Those values like trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent learned in that group and with family at home, served him throughout his life.  Early on he enjoyed hunting, catching hogs, and working Brahman cattle by horseback with family cowboys.  By age 10, he was helping with the family rice farm and tending to livestock.  In high school, he played football for Liberty, and showed registered Angus cattle and pigs through the local FFA.

He was a true horse lover and grew up with a saddle underneath him.  He was good with a rope, and enjoyed competing in ropings and slack across the state from the age of 15.  He met Sheila at a rodeo, and after two dates, he asked her to marry.  They never looked back. They had Chad, Cody, and Robbin and invested in their lives all they could. Chad gained his wings while very young, and that made them grow stronger in their faith and closer to each other. They were happily married 51 years and loved each other completely through thick and thin.

Dad got a rodeo scholarship to South Texas College in Houston, TX and joined the Texas Calf Roping Association and stayed very competitive. He worked many jobs over the years, from working rice fields on his favorite horse, Sam, to butchering for my Papaw’s meat market in La Porte, to construction work at NL Shaefer and Cameron Ironworks, to Tennwood Golf Course (now Houston Oaks), and Cypress ISD.  Throughout his work career he didn’t tolerate any disrespect, and showed us how to stand up for ourselves, better ourselves, and think ahead.

As his family grew, “Big John” as his friends called him, often put food on the table by deer hunting.  Dad was a sure shot, and quick with a knife.  Dad loved hunting in both East Texas and West Texas with all his hunting buddies and dominoes and cards at camp.  In later years, he enjoyed hunting closer to home with family.

Dad was generous, and sacrificed sleep to drive us, kids, to youth rodeos and cattle shows.  He did without to make us comfortable.  Despite work he made time for our family, and invested in teaching us things like how to ride, hunt, show pigs and cattle, fish, drive, camp, BBQ, and butcher.

He was a long time volunteer in the 4-H program serving with Roy Heinemann as assistant livestock judging coach for our Texas team from Waller Co. at the 1994 National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest.  He could be found helping Berry Harrison with the meat at the annual 4-H BBQ each year.  He supported the Waller FFA program, WISD Football & Volleyball programs, Texas Club Calf Association, and Waller County Fair Association because he not only wanted to see his kids succeed, but others as well.  In 1997, he smiled big as Robbin won Grand Champion Red Brangus Cow/Calf pair and Grand Champion Bull at HLSR.  He loved raising good cattle, and for a few years halter broke, fitted, and showed Red Brangus cattle for Sureway Farms of Schulenburg, TX successfully at HLSR.

He loved working with his hands, freshly mowed grass, America, fresh peaches off the tree, the Frio river, dancing with Sheila, football, meat, Marty Robbins songs, cold fronts, anything Texas, cake with milk, and deer hunting season!  He was friends to many, and loved being called “Papa” by all his grandkids.  He was a mountain of a man in life, and will be remembered for living a full and blessed life, his big smile, and loving his family completely.

He is survived by wife, Sheila Dennison of Hempstead, TX, son, Cody Dennison and wife, Jonni Ann of Sweetwater, TX, daughter, Robbin Dennison Miller and husband, Beau of Thompson Station, TN, granddaughter, Sidney Timmer of San Angelo, TX, granddaughter, Emily Timmer Weaver and husband, Jonathan of San Angelo, TX, granddaughter, Everly Dennison, of Sweetwater, TX, and great granddaughter, Austin Pena of San Angelo, TX.  Sister, Shirley Dennison Williams and husband, Buzz, of Alvin, TX, Brother, Steve Dennison of Liberty, TX, Sister-in-law, Renee Wagner and husband, Richard of Hempstead, TX as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Pill Briggs, Gary Dennison, George Radeke, Josh Urban, Buzz Williams, Al Woodson.

The family would like to thank the both pastors of PIBC for their help, and the caregivers of Brazos Valley Hospice for the excellent care provided.

John Emanuel Dennison, age 72, of Waller / Hempstead, TX passed away on August 29, 2022 at home.  Visitation will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022 and funeral services will be immediately following at 11 a.m. at Pine Island Baptist Church (PIBC) on Brumlow Road in Hempstead, TX with PIBC Senior Pastor, Tom Dobbs and PIBC Associate Pastor, Toddle Godfrey, officiating.  Burial will follow at Fairlawn Cemetery in Liberty, TX.