Funeral home director dies doing what he loved

Western Bureau:

Westmoreland lost one of its most revered sons yesterday when renowned funeral director, Dr Robert ‘Tony’ Doyley, of the Savanna-la-Mar-based Doyley Funeral Home, collapsed and died while playing the organ at the funeral of his longtime friend, another renowned hotelier/contractor, Dane ‘Blushy’ Foote.

According to reports, during the funeral, which was taking place at the St George’s Parish Church in Savanna-la-Mar, where Doyley served as organist and choir director, he collapsed shortly after 11 a.m. He was rushed to hospital but died while undergoing treatment.

Westmoreland Custos Reverend Hartley Perrin, who was one of the officiating ministers at the funeral, and who, like Foote and Doyley, is a past student of Manning’s School, described the death of the funeral director as a big loss to the parish.

Perrin said Doyley, who was a part of the Class of 1976 at Manning’s, died at a place that he loved, doing something that he loved.

“He was a devoted man of the church and, while he was a funeral director, his true passion was playing the organ,” said Perrin. “He regularly played at church events all over the parish, free of cost. I believed he died doing what he liked, which is playing the organ; at a place that he loved, which is the church.”

Always willing to assist

In speaking to the high regard in which Doyley was held across the western parish, Perrin said his generosity was legendary, as he was always willing and ready to assist needy persons and support worthwhile causes.

“He was generous to a fault, his kindness knew no bounds,” said Perrin. “I am expecting an outpouring of grief when the news spread across the parish because he was so well loved for his exceptional skills as an organist and the kindness he was always showing to people in need.”

For a substantial portion of his life, Doyley lived between Jamaica and the United States (US), where his immediate family now resides. However, he took up residence in Jamaica full-time when his father, Carlton Doyley, the founder of the funeral home and the adjoining cemetery, died just over two years ago.

Since the death of his father, Doyley had expanded both the funeral home and the cemetery, which he renamed the Carlton Doyley Cemetery.

Cosmond Jackson, vice-president of the Westmoreland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said Doyley’s death was a great loss to Westmoreland and that his great love for the parish and his long-standing commitment to assisting in its development spoke volumes of his caring personality.

“He was a people person and one who was always ready to assist in terms of civic duties or in whatever other area he was asked to support. He was always receptive to the needs of the chamber and to The Manning’s School,” said Jackson. “The chamber is deeply saddened by his sudden death, and his absence will certainly leave a void in the business community.”

For Doyley’s brother, former Reno Football Club outstanding defender of the 1980s, Patrick Doyley, who currently lives in the US and who was celebrating his birthday yesterday, his death was a particularly painful blow.

editorial@gleanerjm.com