Gary "Bud" Dorris

Gary “Bud” Dorris, 89, of Owensboro, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at Hermitage Care and Rehabilitation Center under the care of Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Kentucky. He was born August 5, 1936, in Providence, KY to the late Louis Raymond and Carrie Mae Dorris. Bud was a member of First Freewill Baptist Church.

Retiring from the Boilermakers Local 40 after thirty years, Bud was an exceptionally skilled and gifted welder. Throughout his career, he was admired and respected for his technical skills of rigging, assembling, and installing massive industrial components for power plants and tanks throughout the region. Bud spent the majority of his career as a supervisor and General Foreman of construction at the TVA/Paradise Plant in Drakesboro, KY. He took great pride in his work and established many life-long friendships with his brothers in Local 40.

Bud then established Habit Hill Pay Lake on his farm in Habit, KY; a community he liked to call “A little piece of Heaven.” For the next several years, he enjoyed the company of young and old aspiring fishermen. After selling his farm in Habit and retiring from the farm and fishing business, Bud moved to Owensboro and obtained his real estate license. For the next six years, he again formed true friendships with clients and coworkers. His final business venture at the age of seventy was owning and operating Ace Welding Service with the help of his grandson.

Faith and family, however, were most important to Bud. His entire adult life was spent loving Jesus. He was a faithful and good steward in Christ. Bud never missed an opportunity to witness and encourage others to join him in his walk with Jesus. He was a devoted son to his parents, while respecting and appreciating their love, support, and guidance throughout his life.

Bud will forever be honored by his children. A single father in the 1960s raising three children, was remarkable. They were his pride and joy, and he loved them fiercely. He instilled the values of loving Jesus, commitment to family, the value of hard work, and keeping a good sense of humor while living a good and productive life. His love and devotion will forever be remembered in our lives.

Later in life, Bud’s best days were spent sitting in his swing under his favorite tree, watching his grandchildren play in his pool. There was never a short supply of his famous BBQ chicken and ribs cooked from his custom-made smokers.

In addition to his parents, Bud was preceded in death by two brothers, Larry Raymond Dorris and James Franklin Dorris and his daughter, Stephanie Gayle Dorris.

He is survived by his two remaining children, Timothy B. Dorris (Susie) of Sweeden, KY and Cleta Dorris Brancato (Frank) of Owensboro; grandchildren, Quinn Dorris, Sarah Miller, Ross DeWitt, Nathan Prow, and Bethaney Wooldridge; seven great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

The funeral service will be 12:00 p.m. Friday, March 13, 2026, at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory, where visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. Burial to follow at Rosehill Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Hermitage Care and Rehabilitation.

Memories and condolences for the family may be left at www.glenncares.com.