Cecil Humphries Dickey

Cecil Humphries Dickey age 80, died Sunday October 8, 2017 at the Waltonwood at Lakeside Assisted Living Facility in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Cecil was born June 19, 1937 in Tampa, Florida the son of the late Enos Izear Dickey and the late Mary Elizabeth (nee: Humphries) Dickey.Cecil was raised in Sylvania Georgia and attended Screven County High School. At the young age of 17 Cecil joined the United States Marine Corps where he would serve with distinction for over 21 years. Cecil joined the USMC in June of 1954 and was Honorably discharged from active duty September of 1975 achieving the rank of Master Sergeant.During his initial deployments with the Marine Corps in 1956 as part of Admiral Eckstrom's security detail for NATO, a young Cecil would meet and fall in love with a young Italian girl. Her name was Mafalda who could not speak English, also Cecil could not speak Italian... however during the USO dance in Naples, Italy the two danced and fell in love letting the language barrier work itself out. The couple married in December of 1957 and with Cecil's military traveling to different posts around the world and country the couple began a journey through life together.As a young Marine Cecil played football for the All Marine Football team and even tried out with the Baltimore Colts Professional Football team. Cecil was a physical specimen who was known for his true strength and muscle mass. While in Vietnam he assembled a workout gym and was the director for intramural sports. Cecil athleticism continued into his senior years as he re-found body building and put many hours lifting at the gym.Cecil served during the Vietnam War as a Crew Chief with the Marine Helicopter CH-46A Squadron 265 based in Da Nang. It was while serving as a crew chief that Sergeant Dickey was awarded the Gold Star in lieu of his seventh Air Medal, (he would earn 2 more). An Air Medal is awarded for 20 flights into a combat zone, therefore Sergeant Dickey attained more than 180 missions into a combat zone. During his combat service Sergeant Dickey would receive many recognitions, accolades, and awards including, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Navy Occupation Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, a Presidential Unit Citation signed by President Johnson, a Combat Action Ribbon, the Meritorious Mast, and the Purple Heart for wounds suffered while in flight over the DMZ.Following his military service Cecil retired from the Naval Air Station in Millington Tennessee. He became the manager of the Olive Branch Country Club in Mississippi, a short lived position before joining Cadillac Guage. Eventually with the help of a friend returned to the Department of Defense working within TACOM. Cecil was the Branch Chief in the maintenance department achieving a level GS-13 position before retiring in 1997.Retirement was never a word Cecil really cared for, he lived his life filled with activity and excitement. To say Cecil lived a colorful life would be an understatement. He cherished his 1969 Chevy Nova with a big block engine, and went on to drag race it at the Lapeer Dragway. He also found time to return to the workforce as a truck driver hauling steel locally. He was truly a selfless man who consistently put others before himself. Following the death of his wife, Cecil tried to give of himself daily by way of his time, money, or efforts helping others. He donated time to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen and Capuchin Fathers, he also helped within his Catholic Church, St. Lucy, with assistance during the MCREST shelter program. Cecil loved big red trucks and eventually bought one with a car hauler. Over time he assisted many folks with moving their vehicles and goods from one location to another.During his lifetime Cecil was a member of the Moose Lodge 901 in Raleigh, Tennessee and also a lifetime member of the Masons, lastly the Utica-Macomb Masonic Lodge #64. Cecil enjoyed the company of others, sharing a drink and a good story, however no story could match his own of the times spent with his fellow Marines. Cecil loved his country and fellow patriots. He believed God, Country, Corps and family, as his paramount guide and foundation in life... Semper Fidelis!Cecil Humphries Dickey was the beloved husband of the late Mafalda Dickey, and the loving father of Patricia O'Blenes (Ken Kane). He was predeceased by al his siblings, the late Albert Dickey, Myrtice Pinckney, James Curtis Dickey, William Ward Dickey, and Enos Douglas Dickey. Cecil is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, family members, and dear friends including his Marine Corps Comrades. Visitation for Cecil will be Wednesday from 3:30-9pm at the D.S. Temrowski & Sons Funeral Home, 30009 Hoover Road at Common (12 1/2 Mile Road). Mr. Dickey will lie in state Thursday 9:30am at St. Lucy Catholic Church in St. Clair Shores, until the time of the Funeral Mass 10am. Celebrating the Funeral Liturgy will be Reverend Fr. Michael Loyson. Entombment will follow in Resurrection Cemetery.Memorial donations are appreciated to Alzheimer's Association, www.alz.org or Wounded Warriors Project, www.woundedwarriorproject.org Please share memories of Cecil at his memory book above.