Danny "Digger Dan" Kaye Dennis

Danny “Digger Dan” Kaye Dennis, born September 25, 1953, passed unexpectedly from this life into His Savior’s loving arms on October 11, 2025, at Shelby Baptist Medical Center. He was surrounded by his family, who will forever miss his one-of-a-kind, over-the-top, strong and steady presence.

Danny is preceded in death by his mother, Mary Jeanette Cheeves; his father, James Morris Dennis; his stepmother, Ruby Driver Dennis; and his brothers, Ronald Earl Dennis and Rodney Dennis.

He is survived by his wife, Lori (Gallops), and their children, William Daniel Dennis, Sarah Dennis Teal, and his son-in-law, Greg Teal; and his former wife, Debe (Graves), and their son, David Dawson. He will forever be cherished in the hearts of his 6 grandchildren: Isabella (15), Hadassah (14), Oliver (12), Indigo (9), Lydia (5), and George (3).

Danny can be described as strong, capable, smart, creative, resilient, adventurous, resourceful, skilled, funny, talented, brave, fiercely protective of his family, and, most importantly, the life of every party he ever attended. He carried his guitar with him often, in case a need for some gospel or bluegrass music arose. He is the guy you want on the desert island with you. He can build the raft and get the coconuts. He is the guy you want with you in an emergency. He can remain calm in a calamity. He can McGyver two pieces of string, a penny, and a popsicle stick into a motor. He’s the one you know will help when things aren’t looking good.

He spent his childhood years in Verbena with his siblings, Gary (Sharon), James (Nancy), and Diane Knight (Jerry), then he ventured to Montgomery in his teen years, where legend has it, he accidentally made 10,000 gallons too many of chocolate milk in the dairy processing plant by switching the wrong lever. He served in the United States Air Force in his young adult years. He met his wife of 44 years, Lori, in Tarrant, in 1980. They quickly fell in love, got married, and made a family. He resided in the greater Birmingham area for most of his adult life, then moved back to Verbena in 2010, where his daughter and son-in-law followed. He helped build a family homestead, all the while teaching his grandkids what it means to have a farm. He worked with his hands all of his life. He wore many hats professionally throughout his life. He was a builder, a mechanic, a heavy machinery operator, a welder, and more. His love of life, laughter, music, animals, family, and God’s creation will live on in the hearts of those who loved him.

Please join his family in celebrating the life God gave Danny at Verbena Methodist Church on Friday, October 17. The family will receive friends and loved ones at 10 am. A funeral service will follow at 12 pm, followed by a burial service at 256 CR 502. After the burial, the family invites you to attend a lunch at the church to fellowship and celebrate Danny through music and sharing stories about him. Bring your instruments and play the music he loved.