JOPLIN, Mo. —
Danny N. "Dan" Tennis, age 68, Joplin, passed away at 9:11 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11, 2013, at his residence.
Dan was born Aug. 8, 1944, in Joplin, to the late Henry A. "Buck" Tennis and Bertha Belle McKay Tennis. He was raised in Northeast Oklahoma and Southeast Kansas. He graduated from Riverton High School and moved to Joplin in 1962. He then attended the University of Kansas at Lawrence, where he played football.
Dan worked for the City of Joplin at the Fire Department for 27 years, retiring as captain in 2001. He had also worked for over 30 years at Sears. He was a member of the Missouri National Guard from 1967 to 1972. In his spare time, Dan enjoyed and was a skilled woodworker.
He married Lina Ellis on Feb. 1, 1969, in Carl Junction. She survives at the home.
Additional survivors include his children, Jeffrey Tennis, Joplin, and Tracy Boyd and her husband, John, Carl Junction; daughter-in-law, Carol Tennis; he was the most wonderful Papa to Emily and Brenlea Boyd, Carl Junction, Micaela and Gabriel Tennis, Joplin; and grandchildren of the heart, Brian Hiatt, Joplin, Katie and Becca Martin, Neosho. Also surviving Dan is his brother, Larry Tennis and his wife, Joyce, Neosho; in-laws, Bill and Linda Ellis, Herman and Alice Ellis, Wayne and Joyce Dunn, Betty Sue and Mary Smith, Carl Junction, Larry and Felicia Ellis, Shell City, and Jay and Sharon Ellis, Webb City; several nieces, nephews, other extended family members and many close friends. In addition to his parents, Dan was preceded in death by a brother, Edward Tennis in 1984.
Services will be Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Journey Baptist Church. John Boyd and Matt Derfelt will officiate. The family received friends Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Parker Mortuary.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Bill and Virginia Leffen Autism Center in care of Parker Mortuary.
Online condolences may be made at www.parkermortuary.com
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