Dennis Leroy Cunnings died peacefully on June 21, 2023, holding the hand of his wife, Cara. Dennis was born on August 17, 1947, in Fresno, California, to parents Roy and Norma (Jimmy) Cunnings. He was a graduate of Bullard High School. After high school, Dennis joined the United States Navy and was a Vietnam Veteran.

When Dennis returned home, he began his career as a successful painting and roofing contractor, where he built a network of amazing friends and co-workers. He met and married his first wife, with whom he had two children, Denise and Dennis. After his divorce, Dennis met his wife, Cara, in 1979. They married in 1981 and were married for 44 years until his passing. Like most couples, they went through ups and downs, but their deep love for one another always persevered.

When he met Cara, he gained the other love of his life, his daughter, Alicynne (Kyle Chaney). Alicynne and Kyle have three daughters: McKenna, Rylie, and Avery. The three girls changed Dennis forever. The joy on his face was constant when he was with them or even talking about them.

Dennis started playing golf at the age of four, tagging along with his mother, Jimmy. He was a gifted golfer, qualifying in 1996 for the Mid-Amateur Championship in Hartford, Connecticut. He also loved playing in tournaments closer to home, especially when he and his nephew Blair Cunnings would play in the Four-Ball Championship at Stanford. Over the years, he was a member of several golf and country clubs; Sunnyside, San Joaquín, Brighten Crest, and most recently Dragonfly.

In the 1980s, he took a break from golf for several years and began showing horses. He showed in Snaffle bit Futurities in California, Idaho, Oregon, and Montana. He loved the sport until he realized (much to Cara's delight) that he had to work really hard to keep three horses in training and fed, so back to golf.

Dennis and Cara loved to travel and their adventures took them to Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Philadelphia, New York, and Connecticut. They decided to go a little further, visiting Italy, Spain, Germany, and China, always meeting new people, some becoming lifelong friends.

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, Roy Cunnings and Jimmy Cunnings. He is survived by his wife Cara, daughter Alicynne (Kyle), and granddaughters McKenna, Rylie, and Avery. Sister Darlene Cunnings, nephews Brent and Blair (Ninette) Cunnings. He loved his many nieces and nephews, especially niece Shamron Briggs, who held a special place in his heart.

A memorial service will be held at Farewell Funeral located at 660 W. Locust Ave, Suite 101, Fresno, CA, on Friday, June 30 at 11:30. A celebration of life will follow the service at The Lime Lite, 1054 W. Shaw Ave.