Eddie Dean Rhodes was born December 25, 1955 in Wagoner, Oklahoma to Bob and Maxine (Thornburg) Rhodes, He was the 6 ^th of 8 children. It was apparent at an early age that Dean would require special accommodations, and it has taken a village. He was able to live a full life with the help of his mother, who was very devoted, his family, friends and extended family and the Central State staff. It is a general consensus that all were made better people by having known Dean.

Dean attended Sunny Side School at the Children's Medical Center during his elementary years. He participated in Special Olympics. He was a resident at Hissom Memorial Center during his teen years, then lived in various nursing centers as an adult. He had lived in his own home in Mayes County with 24 hours care and supervision since 1993.

As a young adult Dean worked in various vocational programs. His jobs included washing the Arby's parking lot, packing worms at a bait shop and collecting items for recycling. He has delivered meals to senior citizens in Pryor the past ten years, retiring in June, 2019.

Dean enjoyed watching westerns and playing cowboys; of course, he always got to be the sheriff! He also liked to watch Wheel of Fortune and Dukes of Hazard. He loved giving and receiving cards and often took cards to the police, the sheriff's department and the local post office staff.

Dean dearly loved celebrating holidays and birthdays and being together with family. He looked forward to these times for weeks ahead. He liked going to church and singing, particularly when he had the microphone.

Dean loved to go, and his social calendar was always full, going out to eat, to Walmart, to dances and to parties.

Surrounded by family and friends, Dean passed this life peacefully on January 24, 2020 at his home in Pryor, OK at the age of 64 years. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bob and Maxine (Thornburg) Rhodes; siblings, Justin Rhodes, Patricia (Rhodes) Weaver and an infant brother, Ronald Dearl Rhodes; nephew, Matthew Rhodes and a niece, Cheryl Orman.

He is survived by his siblings and their spouses: Don and Patsy Rhodes, Virginia and Steve Lindsey, all of Wagoner, Marilyn and Patrick Doyle of Pequot Lakes, MN and Beverly and Johnny Swanson of Tulsa, OK; He also leaves behind a large extended family, including Ben and Mary McMahan, numerous nieces and nephews and many aunts and uncles.

Dean was fortunate to have a second family who also loved and cared for him the past 26 years: Kristin McFarland, Dean's support coordinator, and other staff of Central State Community Services. Dean also had many friends who will also miss his smile, handshake and "marshmallow" hugs.

Friends and family will gather at Mallett Funeral Home for a Visitation Thursday evening from 6:00-8:00 pm.

The Funeral service to celebrate a life well lived will be at 10:30 am Friday in the Chapel of Mallett Funeral Home and Crematory in Wagoner. Officiating will be LaDonna Harper.

Interment will be beside his parents, Bob and Maxine Rhodes, in the Hulbert Community Cemetery (I.O.O.F.) in Hulbert, OK. Pallbearers will be Zac Lindsey, Josh Goforth, Bobbie Minihan, Ryan Paquette, Barry Fosburg and Donnie Frey. Honorary pallbearers will be Charlie Taylor and Preston Griffith.