Phillip James Doyle

Phillip James Doyle

Salisbury - It is with great sadness that the family of Phillip James Doyle announces his passing on February 24 at the age of 77 years.

Born in Salisbury, he was the son of the late Phillip Jesse Doyle and Maude Ashley Doyle. Jim graduated from Washington High School, Princess Anne, MD, in 1958, attended Salisbury University, and earned his B.S degree from the University of Maryland in College Park. After further studies, he earned a Master's Degree from Syracuse University and a PhD in Botany from the University of Maryland.

His teaching career started in Prince George's County, MD. In 1972 he moved back to the Eastern Shore with his family to teach in the Department of Natural Sciences at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore where he remained until his retirement in 1999. Jim was a member of Asbury United Methodist Church in Salisbury, and several professional and educational societies. He was active in the Boy Scouts, serving as Scoutmaster of Troop 151 in the 1980's. Since his appointment in 2011, Jim was a member of the Wicomico County Board of Elections.

Jim played bridge with several duplicate bridge groups, enjoyed golfing at Nutters with "the boys," served as a mentor for the Wicomico Board of Education, and volunteered in the Outpatient Infusion center at PRMC. He loved to visit his children and grandchildren and to travel with his wife. Jim lived life to the fullest. He never met a stranger that couldn't become a friend. He loved to learn, to teach, and to help others.

Jim will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 53 years, Joanne Cissel Doyle; a son and his wife, Jeff and Kim Doyle of Woodway, Texas; a daughter and her husband, Laura and Chris Sibley of Potomac Falls, Virginia; and five grandchildren: Samuel James Doyle, Jedidiah Cole Doyle, Kiely Grace Doyle, Nicholas Cameron Sibley and Jake Christopher Sibley. He is also survived by four brothers: Lloyd of Salisbury, Robert and his wife Patsy of Salisbury, Elbert of Salisbury, David and his wife Hope of Newark, Delaware; one sister, Joyce Mays and her husband Ray of Rockaway, NJ; and a number of nephews and nieces. He was predeceased in death by his brother Floyd.

At his request, his body was donated to the Maryland Board of Anatomy for research and education.

A celebration of Jim's life will be held on March 8 at 2 p.m. at Asbury United Methodist Church with Reverend Benita Harris officiating. His family will greet friends in the Mackey Room one hour prior to the service and a reception will be held in Fellowship Hall immediately following the service. Donations in Jim's memory may be made to Asbury United Methodist Church, 1401 Camden Ave., Salisbury, MD 21801 or a favorite charity.