John Lee Dean, 73, of Blackwell died May 5, 2020, at Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City. Mr. Dean was a skilled union carpenter and a member of Carpenter’s Local 2214 in St. Louis. He was a nature lover and enjoyed woodwork, especially building birdhouses and feeders to watch the birds around his home. He also liked to assist friends and family with their own projects. Born Dec. 6, 1946, in Cadet, he was the son of the late Hilda (Courtois) Boyer and Cecil Dean.
He is survived by his wife: Terry (Recar) Dean of Blackwell; five daughters: Rhonda (Kemmy) Coleman of Cadet, Debbie Faye Gerlach of Bonne Terre, Joannie Love of Sullivan, Deena Meinhardt of De Soto and Debbie (Frank) Ciliberto of Festus; four brothers: Eddie Dean of Dittmer, Ronnie (Sonya) Dean of Kansas City, Raymond (Brenda) Boyer of Texas and Vince (Debbie) Boyer of Cadet; three sisters: Alice (Mike) Chambliss of Minnesota, Carolyn (Randy) Kincaid of Cadet and Mary Kay (Ed) Vandergriff of Cadet; 13 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and numerous family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his stepfather: Raymond Boyer; his stepmother: Mary Esther Dean; two daughters: Donna Dean and Peggy Dean; a brother: Cecil Dean; two sisters: Glenda Hopkins and Lynda Dix; and a son-in-law: Mark Gerlach.
A memorial gathering is scheduled from 4-7 p.m. Saturday, May 16, at Mahn Funeral Home, 900 N. Main St., in De Soto, immediately followed by a funeral service, officiated by Father Alexander Anderson. Memorials may be made to the Rural Parish Workers of Christ the King, 15540 Cannon Mines Road, Cadet, 63630. Arrangements are under the direction of Mahn Funeral Home.