Dennis Bernard Henry…November 11, 1937 – October 17, 2015

Dennis Bernard Henry affectionately known as “Buzz”, since his big brother couldn’t say brother, was born on November 11, 1937 to Daniel Boon and Hazel Evelyn “Tillie” Henry in Scottsbluff Nebraska.  Buzz was the little brother to Don and the big brother to Jim and Peg.  Throughout his childhood his hardworking parents followed work though Nebraska living in Scottsbluff and Stapleton and then on to Blythe, California before returning to settle in Cozad Nebraska in 1947.  Two weeks before his 18th birthday he left school to enlist in the Marines.  He was stationed in Southern California where he became a jet mechanic.  After his enlistment was up, he returned to Nebraska to work at the Lexington Mill and Elevator. There the shy young man finally got up the courage to ask out Karen Mitchell and four months later on April 26, 1959 she became his wife.

Shortly thereafter they began a 34 1/2 year career in the Hotel/Motel “hospitality industry” in Holdrege Nebraska at the Tower Motel and then onto McCook to the Chief.

In October 1964 their daughter Kim was born and 6 1/2 years later in May 1971 their son Cody was born.

After working for two families and three different motels they scraped together enough to be able to move to Lamar, Colorado and purchase the Blue Spruce Motel.  To those who stopped in regularly it was affectionately known as the BS motel befitting of the hospitality… the place was no BS about cleanliness and all BS while keeping it on the social front.

Leaving Nebraska, parents and family behind was not easy but often resulted in Thanksgiving get togethers and great memories were made with the family pheasant hunting.

Through out the years the family shared common roots even though they transplanted across the fruited plains and into Texas and even had a couple of family nuts end up in the mountains.

While taking care of hundreds of customers the family grew up and eventually Kim married Doug Eckert and they added a Joshua and a Jordan.

Cody, following suit of his parents and doing it his own way, added daughter out-law Amanda and grafted her two sons Alex and Geoffrey Moore into the family garden.

Buzz embraced his hippy son-in-law, daughter-out-law and grand kids with open arms into his gnarled family tree.

Later, Cody, never one to follow tried and traditional ways brought Gina and her kids, Jalen and Elise into the fold and the tree grafted some more wonky limbs.

When it was time to slow down a bit, Buzz and Karen moved back to the Mitchell homestead outside of Lexington, Nebraska.  When asked how he liked retirement, he said, “I’m not retired, you gotta be old to be retired.  I’m unemployed!”   He helped farm the family homestead part-time until his 72nd birthday when he announced “I’m old so therefore I’m retired.”  That so called retirement still didn’t slow him down much.

Then the grand kids started adding new branches as Josh married Nicole Smith; Jordan married Cody Myers; Geoffrey added Bronte Gilman, and Alex added Mallorie Neal with her little Autumn.  The family tree had lots of branches and deep roots.

Last but not least, the littlest twigs brought a new light to his life when Josh & Nicole Eckert welcomed Paizlee; followed exactly 6 months later by Jordan & Cody’s Myers arrival of Trystin.  Two more buds are growing and due to be born March and April of 2016 with a sibling for Trystin and a sibling for Autumn.

The Henry elders relocated to the incredible mountain town of Westcliffe Colorado on October 15^th to embrace the golden years of their lives.  A town with views and residents like none other. It was the perfect place to embrace the sunset of their lives located half way between each of their children.  Sadly on Saturday the 17^th of October Buzz’s time on earth was brought to a close. He shall be tormented no more.

Buzz was preceded in death by his mother and father, his mother-in-law and father-in-law, his brother Don and also nephew Danny.

He is also survived by his sister-in-law Norma Henry, his brother Jim (Sue) Henry, sister Peg Henry, brothers-in- law Darwyn (Karen) Mitchell and Tim (Cindy) Moninger as well as numerous beloved nephews and nieces and friends.

Please join family and friends in a celebration of life in Westcliffe Colorado at 2pm Saturday October 24^th at the Wet Mountain Valley Saddle Club.  It’s a saddle club….come casual and wear your plaid and denim in honor of how we all knew Buzz.  http://www.wmvsc.com/Wet_Mountain_Valley_Saddle_Club/

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project at http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/ or in care of the Holt Mortuary at 806 Macon Ave Canon City, Colorado 81212.

Arrangements are under the care of Holt Family Funeral Home. Online condolences @ www.holtfamilyfuneralhomes.com