Dena Gayle Spaulding was born September 10, 1939, in Stratford, OK, to Elmo and Ruby (Lee) Rakestraw, the fourth of five children. Her family moved to Oklahoma City (OKC) in the early 1940s, where she grew up attending Agnew Baptist Church and graduating from Capitol Hill High School in 1957. On August 23, 1958, she married Byron Ray Spaulding. They purchased their first home and welcomed their first son Terry and daughter Jana. Soon to follow a new home and the surprise of identical twins, Steve and Mike, in 1965

Dena absolutely loved her family and was a devoted mother. She was a family builder and was intentional in leading them. She taught them to set goals, take responsibility, help others, and love Jesus by example. She wanted them to know they were important and could make a difference. Her devotion to family included her extended family of nieces and nephews. She was a beloved Aunt Dena that opened her home for holidays with love and encouragement.

In the 1970s, she returned to the workforce and became a real estate broker. She assisted with opening the first OKC Keller Williams office and was a million-dollar producer. After 15 years, she retired. The 1980s and 1990s included a burst of graduations, marriages, and the beginning of 18 grandchildren. She taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School at Southwood and Capitol Hill Baptist Churches during that time and hosted many fellowships.

Her family crowned her as the Queen of Genealogy, and she spent her retirement years giving her family the gift of their heritage. She was a member and officer of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the National Society of The Colonial Dames of America. She and Byron traveled the country researching ancestry for over ten years. It was essential to her that her family knew their lineage of strength, courage, and faith in God. She believed that if they knew their heritage, they could know they had a future and hope.

Her love for God and family were apparent to all. She was a constant cheerleader for her family, and it brought her great joy to watch her boys and grandsons play high school football. She and Byron made appearances and supported their grandkids in all their activities. She was a fiercely loyal Grandmom, the best sweet tea maker, and she made holidays special, especially Christmas. She never missed a birthday and would call her grandkids to sing them Happy Birthday every year. Easter shoe shopping with them became a tradition. She would watch Doris Day, Disney movies, and The Sound of Music with them when given a chance.

"Jesus is the greatest love I have ever known," she told her children. She accepted Christ as her savior as a young person at church; Christ was the rock she built her life on and to whom she turned. She desired her family and relatives to know that Jesus is real and loves them. The one gift she wanted to share with family and friends was the loving grace and salvation of knowing Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16