Charles "Charlie" Dooley

Charles “Charlie” Dooley, a longtime Littleton resident, poet, traveler and avid watcher of PBS shows, died peacefully after complications from skin cancer on Sept. 26 surrounded by his family. He was 84 and had been married to his wife Joy A. Dooley for 54 years.

Charlie was born June 2, 1938, in Springfield, Mass., to Robert and Leona Dooley, of Holyoke Mass. He attended Holyoke High School and went on to graduate from University of Michigan and then earned his law degree from Boston University in 1963.

He and Joy met in Boston in early 1968 after being set up on a blind date and they were married on Sept. 14 of that year. The two worked near each other and Charlie would often “accidentally” run into Joy in her office elevator or at a deli they favored. He called her “Joyb” and she called him “Grouch” – always with affection.

They would go on to have three daughters, all while Charlie worked for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management in jobs that moved them to Maine, Massachusetts, Virginia, Colorado, Maryland and finally New Hampshire over his 32-year career. He was an accomplished leader and served for a time on the Baltimore Federal Executive Board as chairman and co-chair.

Not long after Charlie retired in 1997, he and Joy moved back to Colorado where their three children and young grandson lived. In their Grant Ranch neighborhood, he served as HOA president for many years.

It’s hard to properly describe a man who meant so much to so many. He was the best man we ever knew, treating people with kindness and compassion. He taught his girls to do what was right even if it was hard and endlessly supported their dreams or goals. To his nieces and nephews, he was the cool uncle, getting them cassette tapes, making them laugh and taking them on adventures. Charlie never met a nature show he didn’t love.

He was funny, witty, kind and creative, with his mind and his hands. Charlie took up poetry later in life and had success, getting published and winning an honorable mention from the Poetry Society of Colorado. Winter storms were favorite times as he would help the girls build elaborate snow creatures, including a Broncos Bear, a camel and E.T. the Extra Terrestrial. He had a neighborhood reputation, prompting other kids around to ask for his help with their snow creations. He had endless patience.

Charlie was a skilled carpenter who made cabinets, chairs and beds and even finished out an A-frame cabin the family built in Stagestop, Co. He was an avid camper who liked to fish, hike, play horseshoes and enjoy mountain life, occasionally taking family on cross-country skiing adventures that would end in downhills slides.

He and Joy loved to travel, visiting Ireland, France, Portugal, Russia, Peru and many other places. Family trips to Cape Cod, the Colorado mountains and St. Thomas were also special.

The world is a little less bright with his passing but he is not gone. He lives on in everyone who loved and knew him.

Besides his wife, he is survived by three daughters, Ellen Dooley of Denver, Co., Margaret Dooley Porter (Shane) of Aurora, Co., and Emily Dooley (Jerrold Scholz) of Sacramento, Calif.; a sister, Mary Lally of Wilmington, De; a brother, Tom Dooley (MaryEllen) of Hampden, Mass.; grandchildren Sean P. Jones of Denver, Co. and Aaron Fritz (Jamie) and Jordan Fritz of Gilbert, Az.; many nieces and nephews and granddog Scooby. He was especially close to sister-in law, Ellen Abercrombie of Littleton, Co. He was predeceased by his parents, and sister, Frances Lyle, who died in August.

A celebration of life will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 5 at Horan & McConaty, 3101 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood, CO, 80227.

Charlie's family respectfully requests no flowers be sent due to allergies. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Skin Cancer Foundation, 205 Lexington Ave., 11th Floor, New York, NY, 21272.

Please share memories and condolences with Charlie's family by signing the Tribute Wall.