Abilene Reporter-News
December 8, 2000
Abilene, Texas

Marion Dewey Gentry, Sr.

As the family of the Rev. Marion Dewey Gentry, Sr. made plans to celebrate his 100th birthday, Mr. Gentry experienced a sudden illness that took him home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Dewey Gentry was born January 2, 1901, at Robber's Roost, Indian Territory, near the present town of Silo, northwest of Durant, Oklahoma, and he died December 5, 2000, at Abilene, Texas.

Brother Gentry accepted Christ in services at First Baptist Church, Durant, Oklahoma in 1931. Not long after that he was ordained to the gospel ministry at Kemp, Oklahoma. He pastored several churches in the Durant area. 

Later he was pastor of Baptist churches in the following towns: Caddo, Tishomingo, Davis, Nicoma Park, Whitesboro and Clayton. In later years he was pastor of several small churches in the southeastern part of Oklahoma, the state where ministered for well over 60 years.

Mr. Gentry was married for 52 years to Annie Lorene Henson Gentry of Poteau. She preceded him in death in 1976. 

Also preceding him in death are a daughter, Lou Wanda Richard (Sidney), Amarillo, Texas; granddaughter Margaret Ann Blair Hollenbeck, Rose Hill, Kansas; brothers Gordon Eugene, Dillard, Talley and Howard Bland Gentry, sister Lena Gentry Taylor, all of Durant, Oklahoma.

Survivors include his wife of 20 years, Ethel Jean “Jimmie” Bowling, Smithville, Oklahoma; daughters, Ceawilla Ann Burris (James), Houston, Texas; Mary Eliska Ford (J.L. “Pete”), Nashville, Tennessee; Peggy Blair (Paul), Arkansas City, Kansas; son, M.D. Gentry, Jr., (Terri), Abilene, Texas; and brother, G.P. Gentry, Durant, Oklahoma. Also surviving are 13 grandchildren, 28 great- grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Services will be held at First Baptist Church, Poteau, Oklahoma, on Saturday, December 9, at 11 a.m.

Source: Nov 2002