Dennis Heelis

Dennis Ray Heelis was born to goodly parents Thomas Gordon Heelis and Arlene LeBaron Heelis on April 11, 1947 at the old Payson Hospital, the 3rd child of 6 children. He was raised in Santaquin with roots deeply embedded for generations in the town of about 1200 at the time.

Dennis was raised by parents with values of love, service, industry and thrift. He was raised to believe in Christ as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints. He was a handsome boy and young man with dark hair and skin that tanned easily, which was often the case, especially when he was working out in the large fruit orchard owned by his father, alongside his dad, older brother Tom and sometimes his Grandpa Heelis. Dennis recalled sometimes having to be out of bed during the night to take a water turn. His love for outdoor work likely started at that time.

Dennis was well liked though he often felt shy and somewhat anxious. He did participate in boyhood sports, church activities, and a few pranks! Such a sweet looking innocent boy, Dennis reported that sometimes he got away with some things like spitwads in class all the while keeping his innocent look! In his young years it was discovered that Dennis could carry a tune and he was enlisted to sing duets with Linda Broadbent at events such as weddings and ladies clubs. He even did a little recording and was on the Uncle Rosco Show in Salt Lake City. Dennis dabbled a little in musical instruments, and took accordion lessons, but the accordion found its home in his parent's attic after awhile. As a young man Dennis started to enjoy some sports. He played some baseball, and later basketball, which he played some in high school and a lot with family, including nephews and sons.

Dennis had two nicknames, both of which were sometimes embarrassing but had very innocent beginnings. For awhile Dennis was slight of build, until his Jr High School period in which a health teacher commented in front of the class that Dennis "shot up like a weed". Boys laughed and the nickname "weed" stuck with some friends all the way through adulthood. Den's great basketball ability was his 'hook shot" and he acquired another nickname "the hooker".

Dennis developed quite a sense of humor, and sisters report he was quite a tease. He made family and friends laugh with a silly personality. This faded some with age but even grandkids can remember Grandpa singing silly things like "The Bird is the Word' or silly made up words.

Even though Den had numerous friends and later in his life when he was in high school one lady said "Dennis was the heartthrob of all the girls" - Dennis was pretty anxious and nervous around girls. Dennis graduated from Payson High School in 1965, attended BYU for a year and was called to serve a mission in the Mexico North Mission, back when Mexico had only a few missions. He recalled so much about his mission, places he went, people he taught, companions he had and leaders he worked under. With his dark hair and complexion and command of the Spanish language, people sometimes thought he was a native Mexican. Dennis was able to serve under President Robert Wells at the end of his mission and was his assistant for the last few months of his mission. It delighted Dennis that even in the past few years he has had conversations with his mission president - who is still alive. The mission service impacted his choice of education, majoring and graduating from BYU with a degree in Spanish and a teaching certificate.

With great student teaching recommendations, he easily secured teaching jobs, starting at Ben Lomond Jr High in Ogden, then some summer and part time teaching in Provo and Goshen and then he purchased a new mobile home and piece of property from family on the same block he grew up on and began teaching at Tintic High School in Eureka.

He had managed to avoid most serious relationships into his 30s, though many either set him up on dates, or tried to. During Dennis's bachelor years he became a fun "Uncle Den" to the oldest nephews and nieces, sometimes taking them to ball games, playing ball, pulling up on his motorcycle, telling silly jokes or scaring them with his mask collection!

In Dennis's third year at Tintic High School a new teacher was hired to teach Home Ec., Miss Sherry Jensen. Whether intentional or not, administrators had assigned Miss Jensen to teach an English class in Mr Heelis's classroom the last period of the day, putting them into opportunity for conversation almost daily. The topic they had in common to begin with was that Sherry had roomed with Dennis's sister, Roseanne, for one Spring Term at BYU 4 years prior.

They dated through that school year, became engaged in the winter and were married the Salt Lake Temple on June 10, 1982. Dennis began a new teaching job at Springville Jr High and Sherry taught one more year before their first child, Heidi Jo, arrived in 1983. Dennis was so thrilled to become a dad! Cameron Dennis was born in January 1986 and surprise (!) Nathan Ray was born that same year, exactly 11 months later. Between Cameron and Nathan, it became apparent that a larger home was in order, and the family moved to Payson Utah into a home with a nice large fenced in backyard. A concrete pad was added later for basketball. Laron was born a little less than 2 years later.

When baby Laron was one year old Dennis had a couple of major vertigo episodes, which began to be a regular occurrence, setting off related health issues. Dennis taught for 5 more years, but because of dangerous episodes of vertigo and subsequent health related issues Dennis was forced to take a medical retirement. Sherry went back to school and began teaching special education preschool for the district about the time Dennis completely finished his teaching career of about 20 years. He had been a fun teacher of language and culture, using games, and songs plus had great discipline. He got excellent recommendations but became inconsistent in his ability to function. Dennis had held some church callings but inconsistency of health and continuing vertigo and associated conditions made it difficult to hold callings. But periodically there were still dates out to eat - Dennis loved good food- keeping up his yard, and playing some with the kids at home. With a child in 1st grade and 3 boys in diapers and dad somewhat disabled there was a lot of joy, and also stress. They made it through!!

In 2002 the family moved back to Santaquin in a new home on the Santaquin Bench when the children were older teenagers. Dennis still loved to attend to his yard, which now had scrub oak to be pruned and a new lawn to plant, and for a few years the family played basketball together at the smaller church gym. That was a very fun time for all the family, though Heidi only played occasionally since she had started college by then. Dennis also liked walks along the bench - all of these seemed to be done in spurts with lots of rest time, and sometimes full days of rest between these activities.

We were proud to have the oldest three children out as missionaries all at the same time for awhile. As children were married and grandchildren started arriving Dennis loved them too and at the beginning told and read stories. That decreased as well but he still managed to say silly things or give "pretend spankings" periodically.

As time went on Dennis acquired more health problems including blood cancers and diabetes, and in the past 6 years Dementia. He became increasingly less able to do the things he loved and spent most of that time living quietly at home, liking it best if his wife or Laron were home with him.

Dennis literally looked to have at least 5 different lives given to him in the last 6 years, with hospitalizations for varied serious health conditions. But he rallied and rallied. At one point he even shot himself through the leg while checking/cleaning a pistol. No bones were shattered or arteries severed, and there wasn't even much bleeding. This was how he kept continuing on until this last bout he was unable to come back from.

Dennis had a testimony of Jesus Christ and said The Lord had helped him through many a night and he had a testimony of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which helped him gain his testimony of Christ.

Dennis passed away with the love of his life at his side and other family nearby on September 16, 2026.

Dennis and Sherry would like to thank family, especially sisters who visited regularly and sons who helped out - especially more towards the end, and his daughter whose visit from across the country meant so much to him during her past summer visit. He loved hugs and visits from grandkids, and youngest son Laron who helped Dennis on a daily basis and administered the Sacrament weekly to him. We would like to thank several good friends and minister brothers who made a point to visit and help and all those who have reached out in any way We also appreciate and thank wonderful Hospice Staff who supported him and us through 15 months. And of course, we're grateful for all the people who contributed to his life through the years.

Dennis is survived by his wife Sherry, daughter Heidi Moore (Rick), sons Cameron Heelis (Kilee), Nathan Heelis (Jessica), and Laron Heelis, sisters Bonnie Christensen (Howard), Carla DeGraffenreid (Jim), Rosanne Thomas (Matt) and Malea Peterson (Brad), grandchildren Rylee, Charles, Martin, Henry, Hayli, Parker, Gavin, Everly, and Sylvia.

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents Gordon and Arlene Heelis, his brother Tom, and his grandson Harrison, as well as grandparents and cousins.

A viewing will be held on Tuesday September 22nd at Brown Family Mortuary from 6:00 to 8:00 pm and the funeral will be held on Wednesday September 23rd at 12:30 pm with viewing from 11:30 to 12:15. Interment will follow in the Santaquin City Cemetery

Services will have a zoom link: