Sumako Fortney

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.