Dennis Efurd

DENNIS RAY EFURD

COTTONWOOD, AL… Dennis Ray Efurd, a resident of Cottonwood, Alabama, passed away late Sunday night, October 29, 2023, at a Dothan hospital. He was 76.

          Funeral services will be held 11:00 A.M. Thursday, November 2, 2023, at Memory Hill Cemetery, with Reverend Kyle Gatlin officiating. His daughter, Denise Whitfield will give a eulogy. The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, at Wright Funeral Home & Crematory. Wright Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.

          Mr. Efurd was born in Eufaula, Alabama to the late Durwood Dean Efurd and Bessie Brown Efurd. He met and began dating the love of his life in the 10^th grade.  They married in 1966 after both graduating from Jordon Vocational High School in Columbus, Georgia.   He was drafted and served a full tour of duty with the United States Army during the Vietnam War.  In 1968, the couple moved to Dothan, Alabama, where he was employed with Hayes International as a sheet metal mechanic.  He remained in the aviation industry where he served in a supervisory capacity until his retirement in 2010 from Pemco World Air Services.  Throughout his career, he traveled the world repairing aircraft when no one else could.  He was known for his very special “way with words” when he wanted things done a certain way and people from all countries talked about how they could, somehow, understand exactly what he meant. 

Mr. Efurd was a “man’s man.”  He made friends wherever he went.  He loved all things outdoors from hunting, fishing, farming, to rebuilding and repairing cars, especially his original 1966 Mustang, which he located again, re-purchased, and completely restored. He enjoyed drag racing on the weekends.  The faster, the better.  Above all, he loved his family with all of his might.  His daughters, he referred to as “his girls,” were the apples of his eye.  His grandsons were his absolute pride and joy. He talked to them every day.  As he said on his last day of life, his granddaughter and great-granddaughter were his “whole heart” and he often sang, “You are my Sunshine” to them.

Along with his parents, he was also preceded in death by his sister, Brenda Gail Efurd; and his brothers, B. Delma Efurd (Becky) and Durell Efurd.

Leaving to cherish his memories are his wife, Joyce Anderson Efurd of Cottonwood, AL; his daughters, Denise Whitfield (Wes) and Kelli Efurd both of Dothan, AL; his brother, Dean Efurd of Phenix City, AL; his grandchildren, Caroline Pennington (Ralls), Grayson Crowley (Maggie Beth), Drew Woods (Gracie), Whit Woods (Peyton), Payne Whitfield (Alexis), and Wesleigh Jane Shepard (Hayes); his great-granddaughter, Anne Ralls Pennington; his special friend, Nick Stoops; and his several nieces and nephews that he adored and loved so much.

Mr. Efurd was one of a kind and will be missed immensely by all who knew and loved him, especially, his constant companion, his dog, Cesar.

WRIGHT FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY

Phone 334-6WE-CARE (693-2273)

www.wrightfuneralhomeandcrematory.com

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