LONNIE DUDE Obituary

Today, we are here to remember and celebrate the life of Lonnie Dude. Lonnie was born on December 6th, 1976, to his Father, Darrell Dude, and Mother, Margret Dude, in San Carlos, AZ. He was a full blooded Apache; his clan was is’ton’aiyeh’ (Cottonwood sticking in water people). Lonnie was a great man. When he saw friends, coworkers, and family, he always had a smile on his face, whether they were talking, making jokes, or laughing with each other. Lonnie was married to Angela Dude for 28 years, from meeting his high school sweetheart and getting married on August 10th, 1996. They started their new lives & had a family, having 2 daughters: Mariesa & Katelynn Dude.

Lonnie loved sports, whether he was watching his favorite baseball team, the Arizona Diamondbacks, or his favorite football team, the Dallas Cowboys. He would always say, “No matter how good or bad his team is doing every season, they will always be my team no matter what.” Not only did he watch sports, but he also coached Little League, where he coached T-ball, and assisted with baseball coaching alongside his friend John McGaughey. Additionally, he assisted with girls' fastpitch softball alongside his friend Sonja Nosie. He was a great coach to those who remembered him, being there for every practice and game, encouraging each of you in his own way, and sharing memories and laughter throughout the years.

Lonnie would always look forward to his favorite holiday, Halloween. He would turn into “Peter Pan,” being a kid at heart, & thinking about what he should go as, the scarier the better. He would take not only his daughters, but also his two cousins, the boys Marlin and Mack Dewey, trick-or-treating when they were younger. Whether or not he would be dressed up during those times, he loved Halloween; that was his holiday, no matter how old he was.

Lonnie was a fishing guy, and it was his favorite hobby of all time. The countless stories he told when he fished the lake back in its prime, the memories that he shared with friends and family, and the many fishing trips he took his family on throughout the years.

Lonnie enjoyed trips whether it was taking rides around town or going on trips he would sometimes have a disagreement about going to Disneyland because he would say “we always go every year” or “we been there enough times”, but he would always go to Disneyland deep down he loved going with his family and inviting his Godson Raymond Sneezy on the trips he planned.

Lonnie Dude leaves behind his wife, Angela Dude; two daughters, Mariesa and Katelynn Dude; his Godson, Raymond Sneezy; and his three cats, Pretty, Cookie, and Buddy. He leaves behind his mother, Margret Dude, his Father, Darrell Dude, his aunts, uncles, & cousins. We remember Lonnie’s legacy and his memory to those who are here to remember him, whether he made a small or a huge impact on your lives, please remember this, think of a memory you have of him and smile because that’s what he would’ve wanted, he would always smile no matter what.

We will miss you, Lonnie….we love you always. I’d like to take a moment to share a few personal memories of Lonnie from someone lucky enough to call him both a coworker and a friend.

I met Lonnie over 20 years ago when we worked together at Bashas’. It didn’t take long for us to become more than coworkers — we became close friends. We shared time fishing, hunting, and coaching Little League, and in all of those moments, what stood out most was Lonnie’s spirit. He had a way of bringing joy wherever he went — always quick with a joke, always ready to laugh, always the kind of guy you just liked being around.

Even when life threw him curveballs, Lonnie had this rare gift — he could find the bright spot. He didn’t let the weight of the world weigh him down. Instead, he carried others with his light- heartedness, with his steady kindness, and with that unmistakable grin of his.

After years apart, when we ran into each other again, his first words weren’t “Hey, how’ve you been?” — pointing at my long hair and laughing, saying, “You look like Terry Silver from Cobra Kai!” That was classic Lonnie. Always joking, always smiling, always finding a way to make people laugh — and then making sure everyone around joined in too.

To have known Lonnie was a gift, and to be asked to help honor him today is one of the greatest honors of my life. He made this world a better place simply by being himself. And like his daughter said so perfectly — the best way we can carry him forward is by holding on to a memory, smiling, and sharing a laugh in his name.

We’ll miss you, brother. Thank you for everything.