Remembering the recently deceased in the Archdiocese of Seattle

Marshall Denby

Marshall Denby of Auburn died November 22, 2021, in Renton. He was 89.

Born March 7, 1932, in Des Moines, Iowa, he moved at a young age to Abington, Pennsylvania and later to Kansas City, Missouri, where he graduated from Central High School. He attended Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg before enlisting in the US Army. He served from 1952 to 1954 and was stationed in Gelnhausen, Germany, as part of the post-WWII allied occupation of Europe.

After his discharge, he graduated from Kansas University. He married Nancy Dulin on July 30, 1955, in Kansas City, Missouri, and joined the Catholic Church in August 1955. The couple had nine children.

While employed with General Electric for 30 years, he moved from Missouri to Illinois, Kentucky, Utah and finally Washington state 47 years ago. He retired in 1987.

He was ordained a deacon of the Archdiocese of Seattle in 1982. His true passion was serving the people of St. Stephen the Martyr Parish for 35 years, where he also served under every pastor. He helped establish the parish’s outreach program, providing pastoral care to the elderly, hospitalized and homebound. He was instrumental in helping create St. Stephens Housing Association, which provides transitional housing for families with children. He also was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the American Legion.

He loved big family gatherings; attending sporting events, dance recitals and musical performances with his children and grandchildren; travel and reading.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Aldean, Evelyn and Joan; daughter Laura; son Kenneth; grandson Garrett Flory; and son-in-law Doug Burr.

He is survived by Nancy, his wife of 66 years; sons Philip (Tami) Denby and Stuart (Eileen) Denby; daughters Theresa (Wayne) Pederson, Carolyn (David) Flory, Beverly (Chris) Chan, Patricia Burr and Janet (Sean) Stewart; 24 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

After an all-night vigil, a Mass of Christian Burial was held December 10 at St. Stephen the Martyr Church. Interment was at Gethsemane Cemetery in Federal Way.

The family suggests donations to St. Stephen Housing Association or the St. Stephen the Martyr Food Bank.