Dennis Littrell

Dennis Lee Littrell, 72, of Lawson, Missouri passed away January 31, 2025 at University of Kansas Medical Center. Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 6, 2025 from 10:00-11:30AM at Hidden Valley Funeral Home of Lawson. A graveside service will begin at 1:30PM at Wheeling Cemetery in Wheeling, Missouri. Mr. Littrell was born on June 20, 1952 in Chillicothe, Missouri to parents Benny L. and Wilma L. (Cooper) Littrell.
Dennis was a 1970 graduate from Wheeling High School who set the Missouri State High School Jump Record in 1970 and won 3 Missouri State High Jump titles (indoor and outdoor) from 1969-1970. He was also an All Conference and All District basketball player during this time. He went on to attend Northeast Missouri State University in Kirksville, Missouri where he placed 6th for All American 1972 NCAA College Division High Jump, won two conference indoor and 2 conference outdoor high jump titles, and at one time held the High Jump record at Stokes Stadium. He was part of the 1972 Bulldogs Track and Field Team which finished 3rd place at the NCAA Championships and were MIAA Indoor and Outdoor Champions. In 1993 he was individually inducted into the Hall of Fame at Northeast Missouri State University and in 2022 he was part of the 1972 Track and Field Team who was inducted into the same Hall of Fame at the university.
After graduation he began his 29 year career as a devoted Special Education Teacher and coach. He taught 4 years at Marceline High School in Marceline, Missouri where his 1975 High School girls basketball team finished 2nd at the Missouri State Girls High School Basketball Tournament. He taught the remainder of his years in the Lawson School District and coached several sports teams there as well.
He enjoyed many fishing trips with his brother, David, parents and other family and friends including local ponds, area lakes, the Ozarks and in Canada. Dennis enjoyed golfing and cooking, especially grilling and bbqing. He built a KOI pond in his backyard which provided him much enjoyment. Two times he grew his hair out to donate to Kids with Cancer. He was in the process of doing this a third time when he passed. He loved Pink Floyd and The Grateful Dead music.
He was preceded in death by his parents, son Ryan Littrell, and stepson Scott Nolker.
Survivors include his son Joshua Ben Littrell, stepdaughter Tracy (Kit) Nolker, sister Pam (John) Chenoweth, brother David Littrell, niece Bentley Littrell (fiancé Jeff and children), 9 step-grandchildren and 6 step-great grandchildren with twins on the way, Nichole (Damon) Rinehart (Nichole thought of Dennis like a father. She and Damon did a lot for Dennis in the yard and around the house and spent a lot of time with him), Hanna Elliott (a good friend of Dennis who checked in on him and assisted him when he was recovering from his fractured hip/leg surgery and other household needs), aunts, uncle, and many cousins and extended family and friends.
Goodbyes are not forever. Goodbyes are not the end. Goodbyes simply mean, "I'll miss you until we meet again."