Leo Johnnie Dennison

Leo Johnnie Dennison was born September 18, 1937, to Elsie Margaret (Spear) and Ira Milton Dennison in Cortez, Colorado. He passed away with his son by his side on December 26, 2025. He was loved and adored by many, in fact, his caretakers at Vista Grande Rehab Center referred to him as “Papa.” Leo will truly be missed.

Leo was the youngest of five children. During Leo’s young life his parents tended fruit orchards in the Lewis and Arriola areas of Cortez, CO. which provided him many stories to tell over the years. As a teenage he attended and played football for Montezuma County High School. Shortly after high school he married Janet Marcene (Higman) Dennison on July 6, 1956, at her parents’ home on County Road M.

Following their marriage Leo and Janet Moved to Oklahoma while he completed basic training. Upon returning to Cortez, he and Janet began construction of their home of 69 years on her parents’ homestead. During that time, they had two sons. Leo had various jobs from working for Montezuma County, preforming ‘ride alongs’ as he would say with the sheriff’s office, a water hauling business, traveling candy business serving great expanses of the Four Corners, and then as a handy man. For a while he was known as the ‘Candy Man’ and was of particular interest to his nieces and nephews who enjoyed seeing him during their visits to Cortez.

Leo is preceded in death by his parents Elsie and Ira Dennison, his siblings (Milton, Rachel, Wanda, and Wayne), and his wife Janet. He is Survived by his sons Jeff Dennison and Brad Dennison, three grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister and brother-in-law mike and Judy Loyd. He leaves behind a host of extended family, church family and friends.

Memorial services are pending at this time.