December 5, 1947 — December 1, 2022 Dennis Barry Hare, age 74, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022, at his home in rural Marshall, surrounded by friends and loved ones.

Born Dec. 5, 1947, in Joplin, Mo., he was the son of the late Clarence Hare and Alma Mulkins Hare. On June 3, 2000, he married the love of his life, Gina (Myers) Holder, and moved to the Marshall area.

Dennis graduated with the first four-year class from Missouri Southern State College in 1969 and taught six years at Carthage Junior High and one year at Camdenton High School. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Dennis worked shorts stints with Eagle-Picher and MacDonald’s in Joplin. He retired from the Missouri Department of Mental Health in 2003 after 20 years of management service. After retirement, he did substitute teaching, and also tax preparation for H&R Block and the VITA program. He served for a number of years on the Retiree Connection of MOSERS for retirees. For the last several years, he and Gina serviced vintage sewing machines as “Wild Hare Vintage Machines,” servicing, repairing, and restoring them to operation at no charge. He met many new friends in these endeavors.

In addition to his wife, Gina, he is survived by his brother, Stephen Hare (Darla) of Pierce City, Mo.; two sons, Erik Hare (John Hankins) of St. Louis, Wesley Hare (Jodie) of Joplin and two bonus children, Mike Holder (Shandi) of Nelson, Mo., and Bekah Holder of West Palm Beach, Fla.; three grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and his many fur babies.

A Celebration of Life was held at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, at Campbell-Lewis Chapel in Marshall, with Pastor Ralph Varner and the Rev. David Norbury officiating. Visitation was held from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. Burial with military honors will be in Smith Chapel Cemetery near Marshall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Saline Animal League or North Street United Methodist Church. Friends may sign the online register book at www.campbell-lewis.com.