Obituary: Stanley Joseph Daily
Stanley Joseph Daily, age 82, was born March 30, 1941 in Wayne, MI to George and Mae (Blaker) Daily. He passed away peacefully with his family at his home on October 10, 2023.
Stan graduated from Wayne St. Mary’s High School in 1959 and was an accomplished athlete lettering in football, basketball, and track. He earned Detroit News and Free Press All Detroit Catholic League honors in basketball and track his senior year, leading Wayne St. Mary’s to a League and District basketball championship his senior year. After graduating from High School, Stan served in the U.S. Army from 1959 to 1962, stationed in Nancy, France and serving time in Berlin, Germany. He was selected to the Nancy U.S. Army Base basketball team while stationed in France and enjoyed traveling to other European U.S. military bases playing in basketball tournaments. He later earned his Business Administration degree from Cleary University and was President of his fraternity, Tau Kappa Delta.
Upon graduation from college, Stan married Susan Howlett on November 25, 1966, and together they raised three children: Jeff (Anne) Daily of Brighton, MI, Carrie (Rudy) Wengorovius of Farmington, MI and Mike (Melissa) Daily of Brighton, MI. He had eight grandchildren: Rhyan (Grant) Pensa, Karlie Wengorovius, Jonathon Daily, Sarah Daily, Andrew Daily, Max Daily, Evan Daily and Connor Daily and one great grandchild: Jack Pensa.
Stan and Susan began their lives in Detroit, MI while Stan started his career at Shell Oil Company as a Territory Sales Manager in the metro Detroit area. In 1972, they moved to Stockbridge, MI when he became a partner in Howlett Brothers & Hackney hardware stores. Together with his partners, Tom O’Haver and Jack Potts, they owned and operated three HWI hardware stores in Dexter, Gregory and Stockbridge, all in Michigan. Stan was a people person with a sense of humor and thoroughly enjoyed his many years serving the Stockbridge and surrounding communities in the hardware business. He sold his hardware store in 1986 and went to work for Stockbridge State Bank, where he retired from in 2003.
Stan was extremely dedicated to his local community serving in many volunteer organizations. He was a long-time member of the Lions Club, where he served as President, the American Legion Post 510, where he served as Post Commander, the Downtown Development Authority, where he served in many leadership positions and later together with his wife, Susan, driving for Meals on Wheels. He was a longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church of Stockbridge, where he served many roles over 50 years.
Stan was always active in sports playing hockey, softball, basketball, football, and golf for many years while raising his family in Stockbridge. When his playing days were over, he transitioned to umpiring slow pitch softball and refereeing basketball to stay active in sports. He was a passionate fan of Michigan State basketball and all Detroit sports teams, especially his beloved Lions.
As much as sports were a big part of Stan’s life from a young age, his family was always most important. He loved following his grandchildren’s activities and rarely missed a birthday, a game or school event. He also loved playing cards in retirement with his family and especially his buddies at the American Legion.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Susan (Howlett) Daily, sister-in-law, Mary Anne Daily of Canton, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Ben and Mary Howlett of Pinckney, and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jeff and Linda Howlett of San Francisco. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Mae Daily, parents-in-law, Dan and Frances Howlett, brother, Thomas Daily, brother, Michael Daily, and sister-in-law, Linda Daily, and brother-in-law, Pete Howlett.
A visitation for Stan will be held Friday, October 20, 2023 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home, 424 E Main Street, Stockbridge, Michigan 49285 and on Saturday, October 21, 2023 from 10 to 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Stockbridge, 101 S Center Street, Stockbridge, Michigan 49285. A Memorial Service will follow beginning at 11:00 a.m. with burial at Oaklawn Cemetery and a celebration of life luncheon after at the First Presbyterian Education Building.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Legion Post 510, First Presbyterian Church of Stockbridge, and Stockbridge Community Outreach.
