Douglas Marshall Denney

Douglas Marshall Denney, age 75, of South Lyon, Michigan, passed away on Thursday, March 8th at his home with his wife, Paula, and family members at his side.Born in Mt. Pleasant, Doug was the oldest child of Robert and Geraldine Denney. Doug was involved in many sports and academic activities at Mt. Pleasant High School and remained in Mt. Pleasant to receive his undergraduate degree from Central Michigan University in 1965. He then attended Wayne State University where he was awarded his law degree in 1968.Upon graduation, Doug was commissioned into the US Army and assigned to the Quartermasters Corp. From September 1969 until September 1970, Captain Denney was charged with ensuring the delivery of war-fighting fuel along the northeastern coast of Vietnam. Doug was both very proud of his service- and the men he served with - and deeply affected by it.Besides practicing law and his military service, Doug also worked in sales, including real estate, and later in life found what may have been his real calling, working as a substitute teacher for adolescents with special needs in Greenville.Doug and Paula Fortino were married on July 11, 1981 and made their homes in Ionia and then Greenville before moving to South Lyon in 2016.Doug was a lover of History, spirited conversation, solo autumn sight-seeing trips, University of Michigan sports teams, and quiet dinners with Paula. He made friends easily and his hearty laugh and warm smile lit up a room.Besides Paula, Doug is survived by four sisters; Pam Miller, Cathy (Dick) vonReichbauer, Kim (Dave) Yost, and Roxanne (Randy) Ellis, as well as several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by members of Paula’s family; Suzy Leich, Mary Lou and Mike Zelinski, Carole and Tom Bunting, Trudy Fortino, Dori and Bobby Adams, Kim Fortino and Lisa Micheletto, Bill Arnold, and several nieces and nephews.Doug was predeceased by his parents, Robert and Geraldine, father-in-law Harry Fortino, mother-in-law Mary Ellen Fortino, and brothers-in-law Paul (Bobo) Fortino and Eugene (Butch) Leich.In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Angela Hospice, 14100 Newburgh Road, Livonia, MI 48154-5010. Memorial visitation will be held Sunday, March 11, 2018 from 12:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. with a memorial service at 2:30 p.m. at Casterline Funeral Home, 122 W. Dunlap, Northville.