of Edmond, OK
January 30, 1926 - December 11, 2018
Monte Meredith Dees, age 92, of Oklahoma, passed from this life Tuesday, December 11, 2018. He was born January 30, 1926, in Olvey, Arkansas, the son of James Rufus and Montie Mae (Abel) Dees. Along with his parents, Monte was preceded in death by his brothers, Frank James Dees and Lowell Dees; and his sisters, Agnes (Dees) Jones and Thersia (Dees) Slack-Jones.
Monte was a faithful member of the Church of Christ and attended Eastside Church of Christ in Tulsa where he served as a deacon; Broken Arrow Church of Christ, Edmond Church of Christ and Harrison Church of Christ. He graduated from Bellefonte High School and he then enlisted in the Armed Services. During World War II, Monte served in the Army as a Sergeant with Company E of the 85th Infantry and was honorably discharged in July, 1946.
Monte married Loretta ''Rita'' Adams on October 24, 1952, and they enjoyed 66 years of marriage together. After their marriage, they lived in Harrison before moving to Kansas City, Missouri where their daughter Janet was born. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma where he attended Spartan School of Aeronautics, training to be an airline mechanic. In Tulsa, Monte and Rita welcomed their second child, Mark. Monte began working as an engine mechanic at American Airlines and completed
29 ½ years with American before retiring in 1982.
After retirement, Monte and Rita enjoyed spending time with their grandchildren and antiquing together. They lived in several locations including Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Harrison, Arkansas, and Edmond, Oklahoma. He lived his life with clear priorities of faith, love of family, and service to others. He served his country, his company, his church, and his family well and was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
Monte is survived by his loving wife, Rita, of Edmond; his daughter and son-in-law, Janet and Gary Tandy, of Newberg, Oregon; his son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Beth Dees, of Guthrie, Oklahoma; five grandchildren and their spouses, Reed and Teddie Dees of St. Louis, Missouri, Tanner and Alyssa Dees of Edmond, Julia Tandy of Newberg, Jackson and April Tandy of Song-do, South Korea and Garrison Tandy of Portland, Oregon; and two great-grandchildren, Nollan Dees and Caroline Dees. Monte is also survived by many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins as well as three sisters, Alpha (Dees) Keeter, Charlene (Dees) Cunningham, and Marilyn (Dees) Jarrett and husband Curt.
Funeral service was Saturday, December 15, 2018, at Roller-Christeson Funeral Home.
Interment was in Dees Cemetery.