Sumako Fortney
April 27, 1947 - December 28, 2025
Sumako Fortney, age 78, of Hartly, DE, passed away on Sunday, December 28, 2025.
Born in Miura, Japan, on April 27, 1947, she was a daughter of the late Mankichi and Shizu (Tsunoi) Niikura. Sumako worked for Toshiba Electric in Japan before caring for her family as a homemaker. After raising her family, she began working as a housekeeper at Dover Downs.
Sumako loved being in nature and could often be found tending to her flower garden and chickens. She also loved taking care of her grandchildren.
Sumako is survived by her loving husband of 57 years, Marvin E. Fortney, Jr.; son, Marvin E. Fortney III and his wife, Michelle; son, Theodore E. Fortney and his wife, Erin; daughter, Sabrina Lowman and her husband, Jaymes; brother, Takeichi Niikura and his wife, Musako; sister, Toyoko Takanasi; brother, Tetsuo Niikura; and grandchildren, Conner and his wife Bailey, Keiran, Ricky, Ryan, Ethan, and Mayumi.
A visitation for family and friends will be held from 12 noon until 1 pm on Friday, January 9, 2026, at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 275 East Main Street, Middletown, DE, where a funeral service will begin at 1 pm. Interment will be held privately.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Sumako’s memory by designating the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Jefferson and mailed to: Jefferson, Office of Institutional Advancement, Department 825434, P.O. Box 71331, Philadelphia, PA 19176-1331 or online by clicking here.
Terry Parrish
We are sad to hear of your loss. Keep those happy memories and smile. She is in God’s hands
Terry. Kelly. Brandon. Koltin and Blake.
Darlene Lankford
I am very sorry to hear about your wife & mother.
Remember all the good memories & take care of each other
Christine Gosser
My condolences to Sabrina, Teddy and the rest of the family.
Ken & Kyoko Sequeira
Dear Marvin & Family,
Kyoko and I would like to express our sincere condolences to you all for your loss. Kyoko enjoyed a long history of friendship and will miss her very much. We both feel fortunate to have shared a visit from Sumako and Marvin when they came to Japan a while back. As evidenced by the memorial video and our own memories, Sumako loved her family and loved life, sharing it with such a good person like Marvin as a partner. May you all keep the memories close as you go through these trying times.
Doreen Ganoung
Dear, dear Marvin. My heart breaks hearing of your loss. Sumako was a lovely and loving lady. She helped me with the Japanese pronunciation of names during one of our reunions. My condolences go to you and to your family.
Ralph Hampton
Betty and I send our heartfelt condolences to you and your family. She was a wonderful lady and you were blessed to have her in your life. Betty and I will pray for you and your family. Semper Fi brother.