Obituary of Clifford Wayne Dorsey, Sr.

Clifford Wayne “Buck” Dorsey, Sr., born on August 5, 1950 in Wilmington, Delaware, passed away at Christiana Hospital in Newark, Delaware, on March 17, 2020, at the age of 69, surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of Mary Louise Rollins-Dorsey of New Castle, Delaware. Buck received his early childhood education from Lore Elementary School, Bayard Junior High School, and graduated from Wilmington High School, class of 1968. After high school he worked at Strawbridge’s, Woolworth’s, Slocum, Allied Kid, and Wilmington Dry Goods. Then, he went on to work for DuPont, at the Experimental Station and Stein/Haskell Labs for 31 years, retiring on disability in 2005. Buck played for and coached a number of local softball teams—BJL, DunRite and DuPont, among others. He enjoyed watching westerns (he would sit in one spot and watch them all day); and, believe it or not, he could cook. He was also a die-hard Cleveland Browns fan. Buck was not a conventional vacationer who would have a particular destination in mind. He loved a great adventure. Like the time he decided, during his yearly vacation, that there would be a different destination each day. With family in tow, he would get in the car and, with a grin on his face, know that his family would enjoy where his car, a tank full of gas, and a cooler full of food would lead them. This was an excellent idea, in the mind of Buck Dorsey. However, he did not take into account how taxing these road trips would be. For example, one day was set aside for the beach. On the way there, we first stopped at Cow Town for some much needed sneakers, and to take some pictures. Next we stopped at Brigantine Castle. Then we reached our final destination—Wildwood Beach! I will never forget the smile on his face as he tossed the kids around in the water. Finally, we get to Friday! We are supposed to go to Hershey Park, and we are excited! BUT, we never made it because of all we did during the week. To our surprise, no one woke up, due to exhaustion. We woke up in the afternoon, but we were not disappointed because we were tired. The whole point of the vacation was being together no matter where we were. Buck was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence W. Dorsey, Sr. and Mary E. Carter-Jackson; his sister, Elizabeth Y. “Betty Lou” Ogletree; and his brothers, Clarence W., Jr., Curtis T. and Louis A. Dorsey. He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife; three children, Clifford Wayne Dorsey, Jr. (Dawn), Germaine Renée Dorsey-Gibbs (Willie), and Keenan DaeSean Dorsey, Sr. (Chevonne); 12 grandchildren, Vashti D. Clarke, Ja Wanda L. Carter, Mahcia J. Davis, Grant C., Avery A., and Grahm A. Roberts; Willie B Gibbs, III, Keenan D. Dorsey, Jr., Myles Hill, Le’Ana M. Gibbs, Da Yuan M. and Layla K. Dorsey; four great-grandchildren, MacKenzie N. Carter, Cameron T. Allen, Anthony L. Harding, Jr. and Avery A. Roberts, Jr.; two sisters, Emma A. “Peggy” Smith of Wilmington, and Ingrid A. Bostic (Herb) of Newark; one sister-in-law, Dorothy L. Dorsey of Wilmington; one brother-in-law, Robert Ogletree of Columbus, Ohio; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends. Buck loved and adored his children and grandchildren and they loved him. They all called him, “Buck.”