Dennis Omar Alkire, 61, of Centerview, died suddenly on Tuesday, Feb. 25, in Tucson, Ariz.

Funeral services were Tuesday, March 4, at the First Christian Church, 101 E. Gay St. in Warrensburg, with Pastor Jerry Basye officiating. Pallbearers will be Bobby Chambers, Port Peerson, Ed Bracken, Bob Stratton, Don Budd and Tom Simmons. Burial will be in Sunset Hill Cemetery.

He was born on Feb. 4, 1953, in Kansas City, Mo., to Omar B. and Betty Alkire.

He married his childhood sweetheart, Lynn Graves, on Aug. 20, 1971, in Warrensburg. She survives of the home.

He was a lifelong resident of the area and graduated from College High School in 1971. He attended Central Missouri State College (UCM) for one year on a football scholarship. Dennis entered the heavy laborers’ construction industry where he was a foreman and superintendent for J.R. Stewart, Lamb Construction and Bandiera in the Kansas City area. In 1989, he started his own business, Elite Landscaping, and continued operations until his death. In addition to his business, he was a competitive trap shooter and traveled throughout the U.S. winning events in ATA Handicap, Singles and Doubles.

Dennis had a passion for his family, woodworking and creating unique things.

In addition to his wife  of 42 years, he is survived by two daughters, Kimberly (Ryan) Stull of Lee’s Summit, and Kristina (Brett) Carlgren of Overland Park, Kan.; and one son, Deke (Sarah) Alkire of Ardmore, Okla. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Tyler and Kyanne Carlgren, Audrey Alkire and Reed Stull; mother, Betty Alkire; one sister, Connie Unrein;  two brothers, Steven Alkire and Ronnie Alkire.

Dennis was preceded in death by his father, Omar Alkire.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be given to the Johnson County Fair Association for fairgrounds landscaping.