Jack Dolley

Jack R. Dolley, 79, of State Center, passed away on Saturday, July 19, 2014 at Green Hills Health Care Center in Ames, Iowa. Memorial services will be held at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown, IA on Thursday, July 24, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. Rev. Terence Elsberry, of Bedford, NY, will be officiating. Public visitation will be held prior to the service from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Jack and his family. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234. Memorial contributions may be made to the family. Jack Raymond Dolley was born on November 12, 1934 in Reno, Nevada to Jack Curtis and Amy Yarrington Dolley. He graduated from Bret Harte High School located in Angels Camp, CA in 1952 and went on to graduate from Modesto Community College and attend Sacramento State College in California. Jack served his country honorably in the United States Air Force from 1952 until 1956 serving in the Korean War. Jack was united in marriage to Dolores Van Metre in Jackson, California on October 15, 1978. They resided in Citrus Heights, CA and in the California Sierras before moving to State Center, IA in 1990. In his teen years, Jack worked for a lumber company and drove lumber trucks from the job site down mountain passes to the lumber mill for processing. He later went on to have a very long, successful career as a firefighter in Citrus Heights, California where as a Captain he was known for his ability to direct and handle a fire of any magnitude. He was also known for his ability to train new Firefighters and was responsible for starting many successful careers. Jack was a long-time member of the California Fire Fighters Association, Lincoln Valley Golf Course and the State Center Lions Club. Jack had a great sense of humor and touched many lives. He was a very skilled woodworker specializing in the creation of beautiful clocks that he would give to family and friends. His other passions included tending his expansive vegetable garden and playing golf. In 2003 Jack realized a life-long dream by playing golf on the Old Course at St. Andrews, one of the most famous golf courses in the world, located in Scotland. Jack was also an avid New York Yankees fan. Jack and Dolores also loved to travel in their 5th wheel camper and would winter in Mission, TX where they made many lifelong friends. Above all else Jack enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 35 years, Dolores. Cousins: Patti Geyser, Louise Dolley. Children: Patrick (Karen) Mac Rae of Lexington Park, Maryland; Michael (Laura) Dolley of State Center; Curtis (Valerie) Dolley of Renton, Washington and David (Sherry) Dolley of Pflugerville, Texas. Sixteen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren; brother Dennis (Diana) Dolley of Carmel Valley, California and very close extended family: Michael F McKenna. Jack is preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.