TRAVERSE CITY — Dennis Farley, 73, of Traverse City, died Aug. 10, 2011, at Munson Hospice House, following a year-long battle against multiple myeloma.Dennis was born on Dec. 11, 1937, in Toledo, Ohio, to the late Harry Mathew and Dorothy Lucille (Bergman) Farley. He grew up on small farms in southern Michigan, raised by loving and hardworking parents. Throughout the rest of his life, he used the gardening skills he learned growing up to enrich our lives with the bounty of his flower and vegetable gardens. He married his college sweetheart, Kathleen McCollom, in March of 1959.After graduating from Tecumseh High School in 1955, he attended Mount Union College in Ohio, Adrian College and lastly Eastern Michigan University, where he earned his B.S. and M.A. in special education. He was a member of the Michigan Alpha Chapter of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity for 53 years.Early on he planned to become a Methodist minister. Following that path, he earned his license, serving as pastor at two churches and finally as an assistant pastor in Detroit. However, his work with children proved to be his calling. He began his teaching career at Boy's Republic, a juvenile detention center in Farmington. Later he was a special education teacher and principal at the Maple School at the Northville State Hospital. Finally, he served as a teacher and then principal at the Arnell Engstrom Children's Center at the Traverse City State Hospital. Dennis retired after 32 years in education, but his love of teaching led him to teach G.E.D. classes to inmates at the Grand Traverse and Leelanau County jails.In his spare time Dennis loved to be outdoors, especially with a fishing rod in his hand. This passion led him to become the owner and operator of The Reel People Fishing and Rod Repair, which after 15 years of service to fishing enthusiasts, was sold this spring. Dennis was also a proud lifetime supporter of the Green Bay Packers and the Boston Red Sox (his childhood sports hero was Ted Williams). As an outstanding athlete, Dennis played football in high school and college and baseball/softball even longer.Dennis is survived by his wife of 52 years, Kathi; his sons, Tim (Sherri) Farley, of Traverse City, David Farley, of Pontiac, and Patrick (Jessica) Farley, of Virginia; brother, Ron (Mary) Farley, of Toledo, Ohio; and three much loved grandchildren, Kyle, Sarah and Mathew. He was blessed with one great-grandson, Lawsen. Dennis was a true family man who loved and was proud of each of his sons; he was always happy when he was able to spend time with them.Dennis will be interred at Maple (Gibson) Cemetery in Grand Blanc. After cremation has taken place, and at a later date, there will be a family graveside service held at the cemetery.Please visit www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com to share your thoughts and memories with his family.The family is being served by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.