Philip “Buck” Samuel Denham, 79, of Gig Harbor, Wash., passed away on Aug. 18, 2013, at home after an extended illness. He was born in Winchester on Dec. 18, 1933, to Clarence and Dorothy (Goucher) Denham.

Buck attended public schools in Winchester and Coeur d’Alene. He married Darlene Lycan in Coeur d’Alene on April 16, 1955.

He served as a sharpshooter in the Idaho National Guard from December 1957 until February 1959. During this time he also worked in mining in the Silver Valley.

Buck got his nickname from his dad who called him “Bucky Buckshot” and the nickname fit him well. He was a truly great outdoorsman who made his early living and also recreated in the Idaho outdoors working in the lumber industry in the 1960s and spending free time hunting, fishing and camping. He loved to take his family on adventures to spend time with nature. Later in life Buck loved to spend time with his grandsons.

After a short period working as a laborer on a ranch in the Palouse area of Lind, Wash., Buck moved his family to Coeur d’Alene in 1963 where he worked in the building industry delivering building materials for Atlas Building Supply. In 1977 he started a successful business in Coeur d’Alene installing and servicing garage doors. After tiring of North Idaho winters, Buck and Darlene moved to the Kitsap and Pierce County regions of Washington state. Buck and Darlene established the successful A-1 Door Service business in Port Orchard, Wash., which they sold in 2007.

Buck was a master story teller. If you got him going on a story of the old days in the woods, or talking about old cars, or how to fix something — look out! He would keep you entertained for an hour. To everyone who met him, Buck will be fondly remembered as a devoted Christian and loving husband, father and grandfather. Everyone who met him found him to be friendly and enjoyable to be around.

He is survived by his wife, Darlene Denham; three daughters, Debra Hallek, Carol (Jon) Ingalls and Susan (Jeff) Rutherford; and three grandsons, Joseph Ingalls, Donovan (Kristina) Conley and Shane Conley; as well as several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his father, Clarence Denham; his mother, Dorothy Warfield; his sisters, Geneil Kelly and Wanda Nyberg; and his son-in-law, Scotty Hallek.

A private graveside service will be held Monday, Aug. 26, 2013, at Riverview Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will be held between 3-6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 26, 2013, at the home of Carol and Jon Ingalls in Coeur d’Alene.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the family to help differ medical expenses.

English Funeral Chapel has been entrusted with handling final arrangements. Please visit Buck’s online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.