I know it has been several months since Capt. Dooley's passing but his absence at the Marina is felt everyday.  As I work at the Highbank's Marina & Camp Store , I had the pleasure of seeing him888109011826
several times a week.  Dooley inspired me to get my Master's Captain's license because of my love of the River and boating down it. If he is looking down now, he can be proud of me, as I have passed my studies and have received my certificates to apply for the license through USCG.  I learned so much about the River through his oration on his tours and our chats in the store as he waiting for the guests to sign in for tours.

It was always an honor to assist Captain Dooley as helmsman while he educated and shared his knowledge with Eco Tour guests.

Thank you for providing this space for me to acknowledge my friendship with him.  You will never be forgotten Captain.

Wishing Dooley a happy Birthday, our birthday's are very close only 8 days apart. We would stop after the day and have an adult beverage to celebrate the day and jab each other how he was a a year older and he would remind me that I was still a year older than he was and soon I would be two years older. We would part for the day, He would probably go to Dexter's and I would go home to attend to my chores for the day. How I miss the little things in life. This past weekend I went to move our boat from the hurricane hole at Boat Tree Marina. It was lonely not having him lead the crew as we returned to Highbanks. I am sure he was happy he was not one of the team that was standing in chest deep water as we tied the boat up a waded through the water to get to shore.

I met Dools shortly after my wife died when I was looking for a captain to replace my wife on our tour boat. Our mutual friend Ron put us together. One afternoon we sat on the deck of my business, and we started to talk. I had had two unsuccessful captains before that that lasted about a month each. I knew after a few minutes that it was going to work out we spent the next 4 hours talking about Wisconsin, boating, sailing flying private planes, dressage horses, failed marriages, our very different early business careers, and then owning our own businesses. We also talked about our mutual love of the river, its history, the wildlife and plants. He started the next day.
Over the more than five years we spent many hours sitting on the deck at work reminiscing about our lives, wives and businesses. Over time the business grew in both the quality and people. Our mutual point of honor is when after 3 years together we were awarded by Trip Advisor a Certificate of being one of the top 10% of all attractions worldwide. Very recently the Canadian Google Travel Committee awarded us their top Award for the quality of our tour. Dooley was delighted as was I. His goal was to obtain the designation of being one of the top 1% worldwide. Unfortunately, I became ill for the past 2 years and he took over running the business without even being asked. Last year I spent 145 days in the hospital and rehab facility and the prior year there were shorter stays but accumulated to 75 days and a lot of healing at home. I think we could have made the top one percent had I not been Ill. He always said in describing us that I was Johnny Carson, and he was Ed McMann. Being an old guy often times on tour I would loose the name of a bird, plant or animal and he would fill it in without a moments delay. We would breakup the tour into modules and only talk about the things we would see on tour. His knowledge was so varied and deep that even if I did what I knew he would add his knowledge and our guests would routinely say I have lived on the river the past 30 years and learned more today than I ever knew. WE loved what we did, and it will not be duplicated without him. One of his idiosyncratic qualities was that he had such a wide and varied vocabulary that we would sit on the deck and in casual conversation he would correct my lack correct word usage. Little things that I will miss was our almost daily telephone conversations that we would have in the evening after we had enjoyed an adult beverage or two. Bill was a man of great loyalty, responsibility to me and a man of principals. He died doing what he loved on the river on the Naiad at Highbanks Marina.
There is a 187-word poem called The Dash that I feel is fitting and I would like to share.
The Dash
I read of a man who stood to speak at a funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning…to the end.
He noted that first came the date of birth and spoke of the following date with tears but said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time they spent alive on earth and now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own, the cars…the house…the cash. What matters is how we lived and loved and how we spend our dash.
So, think about this long and hard; are there things you’d like to change? For you never know how much time is left that still can be rearranged.
To be less quick to anger and show appreciation more and love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile…remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy is being read, with your life’s actions to rehash, would you be proud of the things they say about how you lived your dash?
Linda Ellis

Dooley
I’ll miss you.

Doug Little

My wife and I met Bill (better known as Dooley) when we were weekenders at the marina. We got to know him really well when we became live-a-boards and dock neighbors in 2003 and formed a tight friendship that has lasted since. We moved from Florida in 2019 but maintained contact since. I was shocked and saddened to hear of his passing. To me, he was one of the memorable good guys that seem to leave us too soon. I will miss him.

Gail & I were truly shocked to learn of Dooley’s passing. We used to spend winters living on our Carver 42CMY which we kept docked on E dock in Boat Tree Marina & the first person we met was Dooley. We had an instant connection right from the start. We shared many a happy hour on the aft deck as well as dinners together and many rides on the St John’s. We spent November through April for 4-5 years and Dooley was always the first to welcome. We stayed in touch via email & text after we sold our boat & will miss him for sure. I am proud to call Dooley my friend & May you Rest In Peace.

Our friend Dooley was an awesome, intelligent and fun to be around kind of guy. I always looked forward to sitting and conversing with him. He will definitely be missed, I miss our conversations already.

We were so saddened to hear of Dooley's passing. We were fortunate to have met him several years ago & will always remember the frequent times spent with him at Dexter's. We always enjoyed talking with him about the places we all knew 'up north' many, many years ago.

He was a true gentleman. Rest in piece my friend.

Bob & Mary

My Dear Dooles
              You will be deeply missed, I am saddened that I will not see you or hear your commanding voice telling fantastic stories from the past again. I enjoyed you so much and want to thank you for giving me hope when I had none and to laugh and forgive not dwell in the past. Thanks to you I can go forward, thank you from my heart. You will be missed.

We miss you Gpa ❤️