Mike Dooley

David Michael "Mike" Dooley, 73, died on March 29, 2022, in Dallas, Texas, after a brief illness.  Mike was born on September 7, 1948, to Justin postal carrier Robert Clifton Dooley and school librarian Bernice Adams Dooley.  

He began working in the irrigation business in 1974, acquired King Lawn Sprinkler Company in 1986, and greatly increased the size and reputation of King Lawn Sprinkler until his retirement in the 2000s. King Lawn Sprinkler remains the premier irrigation business in Dallas to this day, designing, installing, and servicing commercial and residential systems in the Park Cities and beyond.

In the late 1970s, Mike, always a huge rock music fan, detoured from the sprinkler business to open his own nightclub. "Dooley's," located on Lemmon Avenue in Dallas, was a destination for local live music acts as well as for touring national acts, such as The Guess Who, who came to the club to relax after their local concerts.  Although the nightclub was short-lived, Mike never lost his passion for concerts and live music.

As a licensed pilot, Mike enjoyed flying and owning aircraft.  He gave much time and resources to the Justin community, particularly Justin United Methodist Church and Justin Community Volunteer Fire Department. The other great love of Mike's life was his farm just outside the Justin city limits, which had been in his family for more than 100 years. He was never happier than he was while zipping across the farm on his three-wheeler on a beautiful day. Mike and the private airport he had built on the farm were instrumental to the community's historic crusade against a landfill once proposed to be located near Justin.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents; by his wife Terri Fletcher Dooley; and by his brothers Charles Kenneth Dooley and Robert Daniel Dooley.

He is survived by several nieces and nephews and a host of lifelong friends. Mike will be remembered for his extraordinary generosity to loved ones and mentees, as well as his devotion to family and heritage.

A funeral service will take place at the Justin Methodist Church on Monday, April 4, 2022 at 10:00 AM. Interment will take place at the Justin Cemetery.