Age 87 of West Palm Beach, FL passed away June 12, 2016 at Lourdes-Noreen McKeen in West Palm Beach. Father D was born in New York on December 22, 1928 to Jane and Walter Dockerill. He grew up in Larchmont, New York. He graduated from Cornell University in 1951, where he was captain of the tennis team and then went on to receive his Master's Degree from Loyola in Los Angeles. He served in the Korean War with his brother Don. He was a Catholic Priest and Pastor at many churches throughout the South Florida area. He retired as one of the founding fathers and first Pastor at St Rita Catholic Church in Wellington, FL Retiring in 2002. Father D was a world class athlete, positive thinker and very passionate about family and all his congregation. To his family he was Buddy Dockerill. Buddy is survived by his sisters, Jane Baldwin and Gay Burke; brother, Guy Robert Dockerill (Susan); pre-deceased by brother, Don Dockerill (Rose Marie Mamone); many nieces and nephews. We will miss our "Uncle Donut". Father Dockerill's body will be received at St. Rita Catholic Church on Monday, June 20, where visitation will be from 6 to 8 pm. The funeral Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Gerald Barbarito on Tuesday, June 21, at 11 am with interment following at Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery in Royal Palm Beach. There will be a reception following the Mass in the Parish Hall. Father Dockerill was born in New York City, raised in Rochelle, NY. He graduated from Cornell University in 1951, and served in the Army in the Korean war from 1952-54. He attended St. John's Seminary in Brighton, MA, and was ordained by Bishop Coleman F. Carroll at St. Mary's Cathedral in Miami on February 6, 1960. He served at many parishes in the Archdiocese of Miami (Little Flower, St. John the Apostle, St. Patrick, St . Joseph, and Visitation) before becoming Pastor of St. Mark in Boynton Beach from 1971 to 1980. He was named as founding Pastor of St. Rita Parish in Wellington in July 1980, where he served until his retirement in 2002. Since the founding of the Diocese of Palm Beach in 1984, Father Dockerill also served on the Presbyteral Council, College of Consultors, Board of Directors of Our Ladu Queen of Peace Cemetery, Bishop's liaison to the Charismatic movement, Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus Council #8419, and Vicar Forane of the Central Deanery. Please pray for the repose of the soul of Father Dockerill and keep his family in your prayers.
