
Thomas W. Dooley, age 55, of Brookings
Thomas W. Dooley, age 55, of Brookings, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, December 23, 2024.Visitation will be 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM on Saturday, January 4, 2025 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Arlington, SD, following visitation there will be a tribute to Tom. Continue to celebrate Tom by gathering at 14-81 Grille. Inurnment will be in the summer of 2025 at Arlington City Cemetery time will be announced. Arrangements have been entrusted to Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Arlington, Oldham and Lake Preston.
Thomas (Tom) was born on August 3, 1969 in Madison, SD to Walter and Marieta (Bresee) Dooley. He grew up on a farm near Oldham with his seven older siblings. There was a lifetime of memories made with his family. He attended Oldham Public School thru tenth grade and graduated from Arlington Public School in 1987.
Tom had a lifelong love of horses and driving truck. The highlight was when Jill Moody asked him to drive her and her horse, Dolly, to PRCA rodeos all over Texas and Arizona with many adventures and stories to tell along the way. Tom was a friend to everyone he met. He was comfortable talking to anyone and could talk about anything, from horses to politics. He loved inciting strong opinions with his social media posts and equally loved debating the issues. While he listened to all points of view, he was as stubborn as he was loyal and was rarely persuaded to change his mind. Tom cherished his friendships and the memories made with those friends and could remember every detail, whether it was four weeks or forty years ago.
Tom loved his family, friends, horses, politics, all kinds of music and debating any issue. Whether it was because of his name, tall stature, cowboy looks, or sharp wit, anyone who met Tom did not forget him. He could walk into almost any place, anywhere and feel comfortable and leave having made a friend, tom defied stereotyping. He was nonjudgmental but opinionated. He enjoyed simple things but was a complicated man. He as hard-headed and kind-hearted. He was stubborn as a mule, but as reliable and loyal as his favorite horse, Whiskey. Together again, they are having the ride of their life.
Tom’s cherished horses meant the world to him; Whiskey, Coke, Ottis, Montana, Remington, Ali, and Ricki. He was not as fond of his sister Tracy’s horse, Jake, who bucked him off.
Tom is survived by his mother; seven siblings Kathy Hines, Tracy Haaseth, Spencer Dooley, Mike (Theresa) Dooley Tammy Monnens, Gwen Madsen, and Beth Keller and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, nephew Tim Thielsen and brothers-in-law; Dan Hines, Mark Madsen and Dale Monnens.