Dennis Ray Strout, age 80, of Deming, New Mexico, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, February 27, 2025.

Dennis was born on October 16, 1944, in Milbridge, Maine to parents Mervin Strout and Joanna (Clark) Strout. He has one sibling, his older brother Duane Strout.

Dennis is survived by his brother, Duane of Pensacola, Florida; his children, Leah Simpson of Las Cruces, New Mexico, Lorraine Casto (husband Keith) of Oxnard, California, Thomas Strout of Deming, New Mexico, and Fred Strout (wife, Racheal) of Rayne, Louisiana; grandchildren, Patrick Scoggins, Amanda Scoggins, Joanna Dunphy (husband Patrick), Kayla Strout, Joshua Leon-Strout, Dennis, Kassandra and Stephen Strout; great-grandchildren Lotyss Pino, Saylor Leon-Strout, Colin and Emery Dunphy, sisters-in-laws with whom he was very close, Mary (Naughton) Brennan, and Judith (Fickett) Pangburn, as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins, and their families. He is predeceased by his parents, Mervin and Joanna Strout, wife Joyce (Naughton) Strout, a son, Stewart (Lorraine's twin), son-in-law Bob Simpson, grandson, Blake, and great-grandson, Avery.

Dennis joined the Navy at the age of 17 and retired 22 years later as a Lieutenant Commander. In the late 1960' he applied for a program that enabled him to obtain a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He was one of 4,000 applicants for this program and one of only 400 applicants accepted into it. Upon graduating in May 1973, he became a commissioned Naval officer and a "mustang" -- a term the military uses to refer to an officer who began his career as an enlisted service member.

After he finished college, Dennis served on several ships in the Pacific, including as Electrical Officer on the supercarrier U.S.S. Constellation, Main Propulsion Engineer on the U.S.S. McCormick, Operations Officer on the U.S.S. Hector, Chief Engineer on the U.S.S. Parsons, and Material Officer for COMDESRON SEVEN until he retired. During these years, he deployed several times on extended sea duty in the Pacific.

While serving in the Navy, Dennis met and married his wife, Joyce. They were married for 57 years until Joyce passed away in March of 2022. They have five children, one of whom passed away as a toddler, nine grandchildren, one of whom passed away in 2017, and five great-grandchildren, one of whom passed away in 2021.

After he retired from the Navy, Dennis went on to serve our country as a Department of Defense contractor, managing programs that supplied state of the art turbine engines for Navy ships, including nuclear submarines, until he retired in 2007.

Throughout his Naval and civilian careers, Dennis demonstrated a strong work ethic, going well above the call of duty, getting grease under his fingernails, sacrificing sleep and family time to fix a problem, instead of expecting others to do it. He passed this trait on to his children, grandchildren, and others in his circle of family and friends.

Dennis was known for his generous and giving nature, always ready to help those in need. He enjoyed teaching young people how to fix things. A pastor once said that "when we give, we best reflect God's nature." Dennis embodied this Godly trait and blessed many family members, friends, and people in his community. A key factor in Dennis's ability to help others was his careful fiscal management and stewardship.

In his retirement years, Dennis was active in his local church, Bethel Baptist Church in Deming, New Mexico, serving as a deacon and administrator. He enjoyed piloting airplanes and golfing, as well as repairing golf carts and other things for fun! He devoted many hours to renovating and repairing church and country club property, as well as serving in leadership roles at both Bethel Baptist and the Rio Mimbres Country Club.

Dennis was close to his extended family, regularly planning family gatherings and flying his private plan across the country to visit family and friends in Maine and other states. He was a long-term caregiver to both his wife and mother. He is known in his family as a "rock" and the "glue" of the family.

Dennis's Memorial Service will be at Bethel Baptist Church in Deming, NM on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at 1200 hours and live-streamed on Bethel's website (facebook.com/betheldeming). His graveside service will take place in Harrington, Maine in June 2025 at the family cemetery with full military honors. Donations may be made in his memory to Bethel Baptist Church or the First Baptist Church of Harrington, Maine.

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." Psalms 116:15. "Be it known that while we are sorrowing, Christ is rejoicing." Spurgeon, Feb 18, 1872.

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