Dennis Paul Singletary was born on September 17, 1942, in Lockport, Illinois, to parents Esther and George Singletary. He married the now late Kathleen Hastedt Singletary in 1979. Dennis passed away peacefully on December 22, 2022. He is survived by his son Adam Singletary (Jill), stepchildren Heather Jo Morrison and Daniel Patrick Morrison, and his grandchildren Charlotte Yvonne Fewer, Skye Ted Morrison, Aiden Robert Chevalier, and Derek Evan Chevalier. He also leaves behind his cherished friends John and Sue Dillon.
Dennis lived an extraordinary life. After hearing his father “hated every minute” of his job at his retirement party, Dennis was determined to forge his own path and embodied a resolute spirit throughout his various endeavors. He distinguished himself as the president of his High School class and demonstrated unwavering dedication while serving as a Marine in Vietnam. In his professional pursuits, after graduation from Loyola University of Chicago, he taught in Hawaii, England, and at Lyons Township High School, in LaGrange, IL.
Later, remembering his promise to himself, Dennis ventured out West, where he embraced the life of a cowboy in the vast landscapes of Wyoming and Montana. An experience that truly captured his heart and was his favorite profession.
Later, it was in England where his passion for culinary arts blossomed, and he became a skilled professional chef in Bath.. Later, he and Kate owned a bed and breakfast, the Long Dell Inn, in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Alongside his beloved wife Kate, who played the wise concierge, they created countless cherished memories for family and friends, with his culinary delights and her warm hospitality.
Dennis was a gentleman and a scholar. His profound wisdom and intellectual depth were evident in the way he conducted himself, allowing his actions to speak louder than his words. His humility and grace endeared him to all who had the privilege of knowing him. We are forever grateful to have been touched by his presence in our lives.
As we lay Dennis and Kate Singletary to rest by the lily pond under the crabapple tree in Cape Cod, we found solace in imagining him riding a sturdy horse, a smile adorning his handsome face, as he embarks on his heavenly journey to reunite with his beautiful wife, Kate. May their spirits soar together, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts they touched during their too short time with us.
There was no doubt that Dennis made decisions the rest of us backed away from. And yet, he made them without compromise to his idealism and his integrity He did so to protect his voice , his spirit and talents he only realized later in life.. He stepped though the doorways the rest of us could not find the courage to open. Much of it he wrote about and then kept even that secret. I had the privilege of having read some of his work.. And by my own standards, he was probably the best writer I ever encountered. Perhaps he was a person of few outward words, but he represented for us the pursuit of our authentic selves. and accumulated volumes of stories that made most of us shake our heads to say . “Why didn’t I do that ?’ Kate was his agent, his spokesperson, his last and best pursuit. Our only chance now is to one day follow them. For wherever they have gone, must be a better place. For wherever they have gone, they will show us how to be our true selves.
Thank you Terry, so beautifully said❤️
What an elegant and loving tribute to a very kind and special gentleman. He and Ksthy are a great team those many years. For example, he and Kathy were so thoughtful when Liz and I lost Bob so suddenly. They sent us a container full of his special cookies to help us in our grief. And years later they sent a new container of the same recipe when a tree fell during a severe thunderstorm and took out the back half of my home. Those thoughtful and kind gestures didn’t go unnoticed and were typical of his actions speaking louder than words. I have absolute faith that he is with Kathy in the Great Beyond and that they are watching over us, together once again.
Susan, thank you for your beautiful words. So true. ❤️
Terry, thank you for your beautiful tribute to Dennis. Much love ❤️