BALDWYN - Dennis Meek, 75, died suddenly Monday, Aug. 4, 2008, at his home. He began his working career as a carpenter with his father. He later helped begin the vocational building trades program at North Mississippi Community College, where he served as an instructor for 30 years. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 17 and served four years, mainly on the USS Hargrove. He served in the Mississippi Army National Guard for more than 39 years, attaining the rank of chief warrant officer 4. He was called into active duty during the James Meredith admission at the University of Mississippi, after Hurricane Camille and during Desert Storm. He spent several months at Fort Carson, Colo., preparing to be deployed to the Middle East. He was a member and deacon at Ingram Baptist Church, where he did mission work. On several occasions he traveled with construction crews from Harrisburg Baptist Church in Tupelo to help build other churches. He enjoyed crossword puzzles and his dogs, Shannon and Hound.

Services will be at 3 p.m. today at Waters Funeral Home in Baldwyn with Bro. Joel Strayhan and Bro. Donald Pounders officiating. Burial with military honors will be in Ingram Cemetery.

Survivors include his wife, Betty Meek of Baldwyn; one daughter, Paula Coleman (Frazier) of Baldwyn; one son, Dennis Meek Jr. (Pam) of Madison; one sister, Frances Hill (Robert) of Memphis; one brother, Roy Meek (Grace) of Baldwyn; his grandchildren, Jake Meek, Murphy Meek and Jennifer Denton (Andrew); his stepgrandchildren, Jenifer Kim, Jessica Harris and Walter Coleman.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruth Meek; his parents, Tyson and Callie Meek; four brothers, Fred, Tommy, Charles and Melvin Meek; and a sister, Mable Morgan.

Pallbearers will be Bobby Conwill, Tom Stott, Bud Griffus, Mike Stahl, Mike Carpenter, Charles Baldwin, Johnny Hall and Freddie Ashmore.

Honorary pallbearers will be his former teaching associates at Northeast Mississippi Community College.

The Daily Journal, Tupelo, Mississippi, August 6, 2008