E. Wayne Dean died at his home in Post Falls on Oct. 21, 2011. He was 88.

Wayne was born Aug. 4, 1923, in Taylor, Texas, to Elmer and Floy (Roberts) Dean. He served in the Army Air Corp serving in the Pacific and Asian Theaters. After his discharge in 1945, he lived in a number of cities on the West Coast and held a variety of jobs including designing tools for Boeing.

He married Dorothy Gessner in 1951 in Richland, Wash., and they lived in Washington, Wyoming and California before settling in Eugene, Ore., where they raised their seven children. Wayne worked for the Post Office until his retirement in 1982. Wayne and Dorothy moved to Prineville, Ore., in 1987. After Dorothy's death in 1995, Wayne married Pauline Gessner in 1997 and together they traveled between Arizona and Post Falls, and many points in between.

Wayne loved to travel, spend time in the desert, going to the casino, was a talented mechanic, builder and craftsman. His greatest joy was spending time with his large, extended family. His family and friends will always remember him as a kind and gentle man who was always ready to extend his hand and heart to those he loved.

Wayne is survived by his wife, Pauline-Gessner-Dean of Post Falls; his daughters, Susan Dean McReynolds (Fritz) of Creswell, Ore., Mary Gladner (Bruce) of Redmond, Wash., Carolyn Dean Wellington (Stephen) of Spokane Valley, Wash., Ruth Ann Dean (David Brown) of Redmond and Marti Dean Reda of Huntington Beach, Calif.; his sons, David Dean (Mylene) of Springfield, Mo., and Douglas Dean of Eugene.

He is also survived by step-sons, John Gessner (Lori) of Post Falls and Alan Gessner (Terri) of Coeur d'Alene; step-daughter Georgia Gessner McIntyre of Coeur d'Alene; his grandchildren, Nate Wellington, Natanya Gladner, Nolan Reda, Connor Reda, Liam McReynolds and Danny Gladner; his brothers, James Dean and Paul Dean; and sisters, Elizabeth Dudley and Mildred Glenn. Wayne is also survived by many step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews and countless friends.

He was predeceased by his wife, Dorothy; his parents; his brother, John Dean and step-son Robert Gessner.

Services were held Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011, in Coeur d'Alene and interment of his ashes will be held in Powell Butte, Ore., at a later date.

Those wishing to make a memorial donation in Wayne's name may do so to the Kootenai Humane Society, 1600 East Seltice Way, Post Falls, ID 83854-7067 or (208) 773-3074.