PIGGOTT — Gary Stewart Dehls
of Piggott, Ark., passed away on Friday, March 26, 2021. Gary was born in Vincennes, Ind., the son of the late Tony Fields and Daisy Opal Dehls. He was the youngest of five children. Gary completed high school in Mountain View, Ark., and started his college career at Arkansas State University. He was instrumental in the development of the “Jumpin’ Joe” character which became the college mascot for many years. Gary added to his degree at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, before attending dental school at the University of Missouri in Kansas City. He married Dorothy Lamb on November 1, 1952 shortly before being deployed to serve in the United States Army in Korea.
Survivors include his three children, Lynne Howell and husband, Ronnie, of Southaven, Miss.; Liz Rusher and husband, Gus, and only grandson Rex, of Fayetteville, Ark; and Stew Dehls of Piggott. Also surviving Gary are his brothers-in-law; Son Lamb, wife Retha; Fred Lamb, wife Janet; and sister-in-law, Jane Lamb. Preceding Gary in death are three brothers, N B Dehls, Robert Dehls, and Gene Dehls; and one sister, Merle June Dehls; Sue Reynolds and Howard Lamb. Gary leaves many other relatives and friends who all shared a special place in his life.
Gary started his dental practice as the “new dentist” in Piggott, Arkansas next to the jail in 1959. Dr. Dehls enjoyed a healthy practice serving many patients in the tri-state area until 2013. He was passionate about practicing dentistry and employed many high school students and others who are still active in healthcare today. Our many thanks for the devotion and loyalty that his team showed to Dr. Dehls and his family including LuAnn Edwards, Rosalie Mooneyhan, Bonnie Lewis and the lab guy, Stew.
While living in Piggott, Gary was an over 50-year member of the Piggott Lions Club, serving in all offices; a charter member of the Sugar Creek Country Club, and involved in many other civic and community outreach activities. Gary was often the voice of the Piggott Marching Mohawks during football games.
Gary and Dorothy had great senses of humor and enjoyed singing together such songs as “Abba Dabba Honeymoon,” as well as many other show tunes and church hymns. They loved hosting people in their home with delicious food and entertainment. There was no instrument that Gary couldn’t or wouldn’t play. His favorite was the tuba.He often donned his plaid sport coat and straw hat to sing “I Love to Cry at Weddings” for many brides in Piggott and across Arkansas.
Gary and Dorothy loved playing golf together and even traveled with other couples on short golf trips. He and Dorothy enjoyed keeping a garden with tomatoes, okra, peppers, and the biggest cucumbers. He did not care too much for harvesting but he really liked running the tiller in his garden. Gary was an avid reader of fiction and dental journals. He kept copious notes about many subjects in small paper notebooks in his shirt pocket. Gary was a wordsmith and loved a quick game of Scrabble. Gary and Stew enjoyed eating out at the local restaurants, going to movies and ASU sporting events together.
Gary was a lifetime member of the Westside Church of Christ and served as the song leader, Sunday school teacher and preacher when needed.
Special thanks to the wonderful staff and caregivers at the Piggott Community Hospital and the General Baptist Nursing Home of Piggott.
There will be a private family graveside service at a later date.