Dennis Aaron Zacharias passed away Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022, at Integris Medical Center.
He was born Nov. 2, 1942, in Globe, Arizona, where his mother, Evalyn Brandt Zacharias, was living with her parents while his father, Aaron Zacharias, served in the Army during World War II.
They later returned to Gotebo, Oklahoma, where both of his parents had previously lived. He graduated from Gotebo High School in 1961. He then attended and graduated from Southwestern State College (now Southwestern Oklahoma State University) in 1965 in Weatherford.
He started his career as a Commercial Illustrator with the Metropolitan Library System but was soon drafted. His military career lasted four years with the Army Security Agency. Most of his time was spent on bases in South Korea.
Upon returning stateside, he met the woman he had been writing to and would later marry, Patricia (Pat) Gendron. They were married in Hobart, Oklahoma, October 10, 1970, and were blessed with a daughter, Aimee’ Ann.
In 1971, he joined the Oklahoma Publishing Company in the promotion department and spent 35 years in their employ. Upon retiring, he was able to devote all his time to his garden railroad, which included growing trees and ground cover plants in the back yard, as well as building rail cars, buildings, bridges and track from scratch. His artistic eye brought it all together. It was a project that would never be completed. There was always something to be added to the layout.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Aaron and Evalyn Zacharias.
Dennis is survived by his wife, Pat; daughter, Aimee’ and husband Jerry Howard; grandchildren, Abigail and Landry Lewis; his step-grandchildren, Nicholas, Skyy and Autumn Howard; and sister, Deena Miller and husband Doug; as well as several cousins.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to your favorite charity. Viewing will be held 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022, and 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Aug. 29, at the funeral home. A graveside service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, August 29, at the Yukon Cemetery, Yukon, Oklahoma.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Yanda & Son Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Yukon, Oklahoma. Online condolences can be made at http://www.yandafuneral.com.
