Harold Joe Dooley

Harold Joe Dooley (December 4, 1939-August 18, 2024)

 After several months of declining health, Harold Joe Dooley, 84, of Resaca, a one-of-a-kind man whose vibrancy and energy seemed inextinguishable, has died. Born at home to Mary “Ruth” Bowman Dooley and Willis Edward Dooley, Harold roared onto the scene as a 10-pound baby on December 4, 1939, with a big snow on the ground, according to his mother.

 Harold attended school at Resaca through the eighth grade and then transferred to Calhoun High School, where he graduated in 1958. He was a champion speller and intelligent student, though he relished being a jokester in class. Harold was athletically gifted and a starting player for the basketball team. He loved stripping the net with jump shots from the top of the key in a time before the three-point shot was established. Harold’s varsity team won regionals in 1957 and played in the state championship game in Macon. He continued to play basketball with a VFW team after high school.

 A hard worker from a young age, Harold picked cotton with his daddy and brother before school and also hung chenille bedspreads for sale on clotheslines along Highway 41 as a teenager. His chosen profession was as a truck driver and he was proud of the work he did, as well as how quickly and efficiently he could do it. One of his first and favorite jobs was unloading freight from the train and delivering it around Dalton for Railway Express. He met his future wife, Ann Gailey, who worked at the Water and Light Office while working for Railway Express. Harold always joked that Ann pushed the other girls out of her way to sign his delivery slips. He later worked for national and local freight companies, including Hennis, Spector Red Ball, ABF and Yellow. Harold received safe driving certificates for more than 25 years and was known as someone who could handle any rig and back a trailer down any alley, no matter how small. By working with local delivery, he was home every night with his family.

 He was naturally friendly, with a quick smile and a sparkle in his blue eyes, and had a big, outgoing personality. Thanks to a captive and different audience throughout his work stops, Harold perfected his word choice, inflection and delivery of jokes told between the start of his day and his last stop. He was an engaging and entertaining storyteller who had amazing recall and an incredible memory.

 Harold enlisted in the Army National Guard in February 1962 and completed six months of basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He worked as an armor crewman and attained expert certification in rifle training. Harold was relieved from active duty training and returned to state control to complete his remaining service obligation. He was honorably discharged from the Army in March 1963 and fulfilled five more years of service in the Georgia Air National Guard, being honorably discharged from the Air Force with the rank of Sergeant in July 1968. During his military service, Harold found a lifelong best friend in Jack Mitchell, formerly of Dalton.

 Harold and Ann married on November 24, 1965 at Dalton Baptist Tabernacle. They lived in Dalton until they were able to buy and renovate the house next to where he grew up, formerly his Granny Dooley’s and then his daddy’s home, in 1968. Harold loved home—both the one he made with Ann and the one in which he was raised—and took pride in keeping up the yard and especially his vehicles. Harold and Ann welcomed their only child, Shawna Rebecca, in June 1975 after almost 10 years of marriage. Harold was a loving and generous father, doting on his daughter while also equipping her with the confidence and skills to become an independent adult. He often told people that since he had only one child, he treated her as both a daughter and a son. Harold instilled many of his loves and interests into Shawna and was especially proud when people commented how much like him she is.

 Harold could do or fix almost anything, thanks to a natural intellect, curiosity and the can-do attitude of people who have to make things work. He loved to buy, trade and sell cars and trucks and could identify the year, make and model of any car or truck from his childhood and young adult life. Harold had various hobbies and interests through the years, and when collecting, believed that if having one (of something) was good, having multiples of that item was even better. Harold also collected many close friends throughout his life and remained in touch with them.

 Harold outlived all his immediate male relatives by 10-20 years. He was not afraid of death, but said his only reservation about dying was leaving Ann and Shawna. Harold was preceded in death by both parents; older brothers, Jack Byron Bowman, who died as a teenager in a Coast Guard accident in the late 1940s, and Charles Edward Dooley; sister, Carolyn Dooley Carter Griffin; nephews, Gerald “Scott” Carter and Michael “Shane” Carter, whom he loved like sons; mother-in-law, Eunice Kelley Gailey; father-in-law, Wilton Roger Gailey; brothers-in-law Gerald Carter and Dennis Griffin; and Larry Morgan, husband of his sister-in-law, Sue.

 Harold is survived by his wife of nearly 59 years, Ann Gailey Dooley, of Resaca, his daughter, Shawna Dooley, of Macon, sister-in-law Sue Gailey Morgan, of Resaca, brother-in-law Jerry Gailey (Jan), of Ellijay, nephews Kevin Choate (Patti), of Willow Park, Texas, Doug Morgan (Tina), of Advance, North Carolina, Rodney Morgan, of Resaca, and niece Carmen Gailey Holcombe (Matthew), of Ellijay. Cousins, great nephews and nieces, many friends, his beloved Beagle-mix, Benji, and grand-dogs, Gus and Cherie, also survive.

 The family will receive friends at Thomas Funeral Home in Calhoun on August 22, 2024, from 1 to 4 p.m. with a memorial service occurring at 4 p.m. Ann and Shawna would like to thank the various healthcare professionals and caregivers who assisted Harold during his three hospitalizations and stints in rehab since April and are grateful for the two weeks of in-home care provided by Homespun Hospice. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages a memorial donation to an organization that supports Parkinson’s Disease research, or to a charity of your choice.

Thomas Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mr. Harold Joe Dooley.