David Dooley Obituary

David Lawrence Dooley was born on July 12, 1940 in Chester, South Dakota, to Mary and Bill Dooley. He passed away on August 6, 2025. A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, August 16, at 11:00 a.m. at Peel Full Gospel Church, 268 Locust Drive, Peel Arkansas, 72668.

David grew up on the family's rural farm in Ramona, South Dakota, and was one of Bill and Mary Dooley's nine children. David graduated from Ramona High School in 1958 and began college in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He later moved to Denver, where a blind date introduced him to the love of his life, Lila Marie Davis. The two married in Delta, Colorado in August of 1963, and welcomed their first child, Mitch, the following year in Madison, South Dakota.

While Lila worked full-time, David attended Colorado State University, completing his bachelor's degree in biology and obtaining his teaching certificate. Their daughter, Kelly, was born during this time. His teaching career began in Petersburg, Alaska, where their third child, Collette, was born. At the University of Wyoming, David earned his master's degree in chemistry. A couple years later he accepted a position with Conoco Oil as an environmental coordinator, which took his young family to Ventura, California, and later to Houston, Texas, where he retired after eighteen years with Conoco.

In 1988, David and Lila settled in Peel, Arkansas, purchasing and operating a marina and boat dock on Bull Shoals Lake. They quickly fell in love with the area and never left. Never one to sit still, David built seven homes in Marion County and founded a boat storage facility near the lake. He later built a home for Lila on their 48-acre farm, where he raised cattle and harvested hay. Whether working on his tractor in the fields or sitting by Lila's side, David was in his happy place.

A devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, David was known for his strong work ethic, deep love for family, and commitment to his community. David was preceded in death by his parents and his eight siblings. He is survived by Lila, his loving wife of 62 years, his three children and their spouses, eight grandchildren, five step-grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.