Dorsey Gene Conley, Age 91, resident of Milan, MI, passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, January 6, 2022 with his family by his side. He was born on November 30, 1930 in Magoffin County, KY to John Clinton and Mary (Perkins) Conley, who preceded him in death in 1980. He was a 1949 graduate of Magoffin County High School in Salyersville, KY and attended the Mayo Vocational School in Paintsville, KY, where he earned a Certificate of Completion in 1950. Dorsey proudly served in the United States Armed Forces during the Korean War and was Honorably Discharged from his base in Germany in 1953. On May 6, 1956, he married Doris Ellen (Collier) at the First Christian Church of Salyersville, KY, where he became a member in 1961. Dorsey trained to be a Union Plumber Pipefitter and he moved with his family to Michigan in 1963, joining the Ford Motor Company in Rawsonville, MI, where he worked and retired after 31 years. He is a member of Masonic Lodge #89 in Belleville, MI and a member of the Milan Baptist Church in Milan, MI. Dorsey will be remembered by all who knew him as a kind, gentle soul with a strong faith and an enduring commitment to his family and friends. He enjoyed traveling with Doris and his family and his wonder of scenery eventually took him to all 50 states. He loved the outdoors and spent much of his free time gardening, landscaping, camping, coaching baseball, enjoying his grandchildren, and simply sitting on his patio enjoying nature. Dorsey’s gift was that he never met a stranger and always struck up a conversation at every opportunity to make a friend.
Dorsey’s wife, Doris, preceded him in death on April 10, 2017 after almost 61 years of loving marriage. To this union were born three children, Melinda Gwen (Conley) Reynolds, who preceded him in death in 1993, Miranda Lynn (Conley) Messer, and Rodney Ryan & Susan Michele (Drury) Conley who survive. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Danielle Lynn (Kyle) Jaarda, Gary Eugene (Kelly) Nastos, Tiffany Leigh (Steve) Zachary, Stephannie Vallier, Sierra Monique Moore, Jackson Dorsey Conley, and Cora Michele Conley; five great-grandchildren, Aubree Vallier, Kaleb Dean Jaarda, Gracie Lynn Jaarda, Lucas Alexander Zachary, and Josie Ellen Nastos; and one brother, Marcus L Conley. He was also preceded in death by four sisters, Garnett Arnett, Mildred (Lionel) Grimm, Nancy Nayer, and Lillian Conley; and three brothers, John Ray (Candace) Conley, Joe Conley, and Robert Conley.
Family and friends are invited to the Ochalek-Stark Funeral Home (218 E Main St, Milan, MI 48160) on Thursday, January 13, 2022 from 5pm – 8pm to visit, offer condolences, and reminisce with the family. Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 14, 2022 at 11am at the Milan Baptist Church (31 Ferman St, Milan, MI 48160). The family will greet friends at church on Friday from 10:00 am until the time of the service. Graveside service with military honors will follow at Marble Park Cemetery in Milan, MI. In lieu of flowers those desiring may make contributions in Dorsey’s memory to the Milan Youth League, where he coached baseball for many years. Donations may be made directly in his honor to Milan Youth League, 50 Neckel Court, Milan, MI 48160.
