Dennis Richard Mayhugh passed from this life to the next at the age of 84 on December 28, 2023. He died in the hospital from heart failure. He had suffered from end stages of COPD for several years. He fought hard until his final breath. His memorial service will be held on Friday, January 12, 2024 at Northridge Woodhaven Funeral Home, 6755 HWY 51 North, Millington, TN. Viewing & Condolences at 12 noon in the chapel followed by a 1 pm Memorial/graveside service.

Mr. Dennis Richard Mayhugh was born May 3, 1939 in Saint Louis, Missouri. He was born to the late Vernon and Evelyn Mayhugh. He was the youngest of 5 children until his mom remarried and he gained a half-brother. As a young boy Dennis had the job of milking their one cow on the farm they leased. He often told stories of milking that cow and farm life. When he was a few years older he was sent to an orphanage to live. The reason was never clear. But he made the best of it. He recalled many stories of his time in the orphanage. They were really fun years for him. He was on a baseball team, he got to ride a bike, swim, and go places that he never could have at home. He recalled those years in utter fondness. When he was 16 years old he took off and started working in a greasy spoon until he lied about his age and joined the Navy. In 1963 he met and married Rebecca Wilkerson and stepped into a ready-made family. Dennis adopted Rebecca's two little girls as his own. Their family went to many different bases. During these years 3 more girls were added to their crew. He would often surprise his girls with a hooey stick that he made out of a pencil. The girls thought it was magic. He also made a crazy 8 game board and it was well used. During his 20 years in the Navy he did many sea duties. One of his proudest was being a "Plank Holder" on the Nimitz. He was part of the first ever crew on the new aircraft carrier in which he was an air traffic controller. He told many stories of that cruise. During his years on shore duty he always worked a second job. He loved restoring antiques and was quite good at it. He loved auctions and ran an antique store for a while. His house was full of beautiful antique pieces. His last duty station he began a fencing company as his second job and continued after retiring from the Navy. He would put on a bandana and it would instantly be soaked from the Memphis area heat. During the time that his younger girls were teenagers he coached girls' softball and basketball for several years. Those are now cherished memories for his daughters. After he married off the last daughter, he relocated back to Missouri near Saint Louis in a small town called Doniphan. He found some land and planted a garden in the summer and chopped wood for the winter. He enjoyed these years in the countryside. When He and Rebecca began to have health problems, they decide to move to the city for hospital services. He lived in this trailer until his passing. Even though his COPD became his master, he fought to keep going. Though he could no long go outside he still managed a good and very healthy life. He could still make his famous coffee and grits until the day he died.

He was preceded in death by his wife Rebecca Mayhugh, his oldest 2 daughters Becky Len & Patricia Rose. Also, son in law: Sherman Roy Wiggin II. Parents Vernon and Evelyn Mayhugh, brother Ken, sisters Faith and Nancy.

Survivors include: Sister Hope Bay of Missouri and half-brother Dale also of Missouri. 3 daughters: Harriet Mayhugh Dollar (husband James of Dawsonville GA), Laura Mayhugh Wiggin (widowed), Krista Mayhugh Marr (husband Mike of Arlington TN) Also, He has 12 grandchildren, and 16 and still counting… great grandchildren. He was deeply loved and will be missed just as deeply!