Terence J. Tennant

Terence James Tennant (Terry) 05/22/1936 - 01/05/2023 Born in Essexville, Michigan to the late Kenneth James Tennant and Julia Donovan Tennant. Terry was the oldest of 5 children. After graduating from Bay City Central High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Armed Forces where he was a gunner in the Army stationed in Germany. Upon returning to the United States, he worked as a bartender on the S.S. South American cruise ship (he always said that he was the original Issac from the Love Boat). He worked the summers of 1961, 62 and 63 to pay for his college degree at CCS in Detroit. His major was Interior Design and a second degree in Silversmithing. In 1963 he started a Job at Whaley Interiors in Midland, Michigan where he met the love of his life and his wife of 58+ years, Mary Whaley Tennant. They married in June of 1964 and had two wonderful children, Sean Michael and Ann Teresa. After working for a few interior design firms in the Detroit area, he opened his own interior design firm in Huntington Woods and built that over the next several years. Then, together with Mary, they opened Tennant and Associates at the Michigan Design Center until 2018. Terry’s favorite place was the cottage that they had on Fawn Island, Ontario, Canada. He enjoyed spending time with family, friends, boat rides on the St. Clair River in the antique Chris Craft (which was younger than him by 2 years), making the perfect flower beds, potting the 35 geraniums every year, the tractor races, and tending bar for his guests by making the perfect Pina Coladas and Moscow Mules and many more! He was a very faith filled man, attending Shrine of the Little Flower. He also volunteered his time to design the chapel at the high school using old stained glass found at the church. His family was most important to him, and his memories will live on forever in our hearts. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mary Tennant; son Sean (Dawn) Tennant, daughter Ann Tennant; grandchildren Lyndsey Tennant, Lauren Tennant, Mason Halsey, Meghan (Tim) Lindeberg, Patrick (Megan) Wivo, Ryan (Elizabeth) Wivo; sister Kathryn Tennant, brother John Tennant, sister-in-law Betty Cody. Preceded in death by sisters Maryann and Sheila and brother-in-law Dick Whaley. Visitation will take place on Thursday, January 12, from 3 -8 p.m. (Rosary 6 p.m.) at Wm. Sullivan & Son Funeral Home, 705 W. 11 Mile Rd. (4 blocks east of Woodward), Royal Oak. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, January 13 at 12 p.m. (gathering 11:30 a.m.) at National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, 2100 Twelve Mile Rd., Royal Oak. Share a memory at www.SullivanFuneralDirectors.com.

Terence J. Tennant

May 22, 1936 - January 5, 2023