Tommy Jerrill Dooley

Tommy Jerrill Dooley, 81, passed away Friday, April 7, 2023, at his home in Louisville, Mississippi, surrounded by his family. A memorial service will be Saturday, April 15 at 1 p.m. in the Nowell-Massey Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Dewayne Kelsey, Bro. Lawrence Poole, and grandson, Jarrod Jayroe officiating. Visitation will be the day of the memorial service in the chapel from 12 p.m. until service time. Inurnment services will immediately follow the memorial service in Crystal Ridge Cemetery.

Tommy was born November 18, 1941, to Richard and Melba Holdiness Dooley in Noxapater, Mississippi. He was a graduate of Louisville High School. After graduation, he answered the call of his country by joining the United States Air Force in which he served for four years. After returning home from Air Force duties, he began working at Georgia Pacific Particle Board Division, where he spent the next 35.5 years. After retiring from Georgia Pacific, for several years he worked with a friend stocking vending machines until an injury required him to retire from that as well. He spent his life loving his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Most of all, Tommy Dooley loved Christ, he preached and taught God’s love to everyone who would listen. Living an upright life and setting an example to his future generations of what a life of humbleness and righteousness looks like. He was a member of Zion Chapel Pentecostal Church and he dearly loved his church family. Tommy enjoyed working in the garden and doing mechanic work with his brother, Clinton Earl, before his passing.

Tommy is survived by a loving wife, four beautiful daughters, two wonderful sons, a nephew, a niece, and a litany of grands and great-grands, all of whom will be named here. His loving wife of 49 years, Elaine Dooley; children: Daphne Williamson, Kimberly (Matt) Hebert, George Smith, Jennifer Jayroe, Dana (Chip) Endy, and Keith (Summer) Dooley; nephew, Rusty (Sharon) Dooley, and niece, Lisa (Brad) Hodge. One of his greatest joys was being “PawPaw” to his 20 grandchildren: Tatum Mitchell, Jacob (Harley) McMullen, Ian (Sara) Walton, Jordan (Arellyn) McMullen, David (Skylar) Hebert, Richard Crowson, Jarrod (Sara) Jayroe, Caleb (Sam) Walton, Aaron (Breanna) McMullen, Andrew McMullen, Hannah (Will) Pursley, Rose (Chris) Rush, Simon (Katie) McMullen, Luke (Ashley) Hebert, Phoebe McMullen, Seth Walton, Chloe Walton, Sophia McMullen, Daniel Hebert, Olivia Dooley, and T. J. Jayroe. Tommy was also blessed with 19 great-grandchildren: Lucien, Aslin, Vanlee, Leland, Waylon, Grayson, Owen, Emmett, Willow, Lucas, Lola, Skylar, Kylie, Jude, Lily, Enoch, Bentley, Arayah, and Easton. 

He is preceded in death by his mother, Melba McCool; his father, Richard Dooley; his step-fathers, Olen Murphy and Edison McCool; and his brother, Clinton-Earl Dooley.

Serving as honorary pallbearers are Jacob McMullen, Ian Walton, Jordan McMullen, David Hebert, Richard Crowson, Caleb Walton, Aaron McMullen, Andrew McMullen, Simon McMullen, Luke Hebert, Seth Walton, Daniel Hebert, T. J. Jayroe, and Leroy Fulcher.

Services are under the direction of Nowell Massey Funeral Home, 724 North Columbus Avenue, Louisville, MS. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family by signing the guest register at www.nowellmasseyfuneralhome.com.