Dean Kuykendall

Harold Dean Kuykendall, 67, of Burleson, Texas, joined his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on February 11, 2024. Dean was born on March 10, 1956, in Malvern, Arkansas to parents William Harold Kuykendall, Jr. and Crystal Pauline (Davis) Melton. 

As a child, Dean and his family moved to North Texas where he attended L.D. Bell High School. After high school, Dean served in the United States Air Force. He then moved back to North Texas where he met his sweetheart, Kristie, through her sister Audrey. Dean and Kristie went on to get married on February 9, 1980, and recently celebrated 44 years of their love and devotion to each other. In 1985, they completed their family with the birth of their son, Jake.

Dean’s professional life began at Gearhart-Owen Industries (Halliburton) in Fort Worth as a CNC machinist. He worked at Halliburton for over 25 years, where he met many of his lifelong friends. For nearly the last 20 years he worked for Oil States where he was beloved by many of his coworkers. He also owned and operated Deano’s Fireworks with his friend, Will Capner, for over 15 years. While the fireworks and the business were the project, the passion of it was another way to connect with friends and family.

Dean was a member of two churches throughout his life that elevated his love of Christ: Bellevue Baptist Church in Hurst and Restoration Church in Burleson.

Dean was full of love and warmth and his biggest love outside of his family, friends, and God, was baseball. One of his passions was coaching youth baseball where he impacted the lives of so many young kids with whom he shared his love of the game. He was an avid fan and season ticket holder of the Texas Rangers for years and was ecstatic to be able to witness a World Series Championship in 2023 before his passing. He was able to watch the final game of the World Series win with his son, family, and friends who will always cherish that moment.

Dean loved margaritas by his pool (he was the best margarita maker) while listening to classic rock music, attending concerts with Kristie and their best friends Ruben and Lisa Hinguanzo, fixing/tinkering with all the things, making everyone laugh, loving on his pets, and being Papoo to his grandchildren, Nolan and Lucy, who adored him. He was a caring and supportive father not just to his own son, Jake, but to anyone else who came into his life who needed it, including many of Jake’s friends, all of whom loved him dearly. To know Dean is to know silliness, happiness, love, and laughter.

Dean is preceded in death by his father William Harold Kuykendall, Jr., brother Terry Kuykendall, sister Debbey Kuykendall, and his weimaraners Duke, Duke II, and Ranger.

Dean is survived by his loving wife and best friend, Kristie Ann (Elkins) Kuykendall and their sweet pup, Pudge; his mother Crystal Pauline (Davis) Melton and stepfather Tommy Melton of Keene, TX; son Jake Dean Kuykendall and his wife Gloria (Carrasco); grandchildren Nolan and Lucía of Mansfield, TX; his siblings Tammey Jones of Tooele, UT and Charles Kuykendall of Burleson, TX; sisters-in-law Audrey Yoes and Jamie (Jeff) Kozlowski; nieces Jenifer Berthoud (Jareb) and Angel (Michael) Williams and nephews Chris Jones and Zachariah (Francesca) Jones; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, great nieces and nephews, and friends.

Family and friends will gather for a visitation at Skyvue Funeral Home in Mansfield, TX on Friday, February 23, 2024 at 1:00 PM followed by the funeral services at 2:00 PM. Memorial donations may be made in his name to the Weimaraner Rescue of Texas.