Obituary of Dennis Markley

Dennis Craig Markley SR. passed away, peacefully from cancer, on March 2, 2026 at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, WA. He was surrounded by his closest loved ones. He was 79 years old. Dennis Sr. was born to Charles E. Markley and Bertha Renk in Merced, CA on October 23, 1946. He was raised by Bertha solely for a number of years until she remarried. Unfortunately, a couple of weeks before Christmas when he was 11, his stepdad and mom passed away on the same day. He lived with his Aunt Alvina and his cousin, who he called Butch, for a few years. He then was taken into a foster home in Bend, OR by James and Marjory Fellows. At 18, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served 10 years. This was a formative part of Dennis’ life. Some of the ships Dennis served on included the USS Ticonderoga and the USS Ranger. He was stationed in a variety of locations. His service included two tours to Vietnam. He later pursued education in Walla Walla, WA for general studies. Most of his career was spent as a truck driver that spanned over 30 years. He is survived by his children Dennis Craig Markley Jr. and Jennifer Markleyand their mom Kathryn M. Siron. He is also survived by his stepchildren, Cheri Hendrix, Justin Blade, and Ian Blade. Dennis had numerous grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife Maxine Markley and her son Brad Blade, his mom Bertha Renk, and his adoptive parents James and Marjory Fellows. The memorial service will be held at the Othello Seventh-Day Adventist Church on March 22, 2026 at 11 am. There will be a reception to follow. For those who reside outside of Washington state, we will be holding a separate ceremony in June at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan, ND where he will be laid to rest with his wife Maxine. We say thank you to all the friends and family who loved Dennis and enjoyed his energy. He will be deeply missed.