Rev. Dr. Dorsey E. Levell went to be with the Lord at 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at the age of 86 in his home surrounded by his family. Dorsey was born on July 22, 1933 in Musselfork, MO to Norma Nancy (Drew) and Mose Clifford Levell.

He grew up in the Mt. Zion United Brethren Church in Chariton County, MO. He attended York College, a United Brethren college, in York, NE. He was a pastor in Adrian, MO and then went to United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH, a seminary of the Church of United Brethren in Christ. He was then appointed by the EUB to start a church in Springfield in 1960. He grew the church to one of the largest EUB churches in MO. He spent a year training at US Medical Center in Springfield, a federal psychiatric prison, to have chaplaincy as an option. He served almost 29 years in the Army Reserves as a chaplain worldwide and retired with the rank of full Colonel.

In 1969 he was called to begin the Springfield Council of Churches. The organization grew to become one of the largest organizations of that nature in the country, with 125 employees, 17 projects, two halfway-houses, and numerous programs to assist people living in poverty. Levell was director for 31 years until his retirement. During these 31 years he received Springfieldian of the Year, Humanitarian of the Year, and numerous other awards. He also was a recipient of two honorary doctorate degrees.

In 1952 he married MaryAnn Spradling and to this union was born a son, Rocky Ray in 1957, and a daughter, Marcia Kay in 1960. In 1997 he married Carolyn Burks. He is survived by his wife Carolyn, his son Rocky (Laurie) Levell, his daughter Marcia Russell, stepchildren Penny (Doug) Pentecost, Peggy (Dick) Sarto, and Sam Nichols, grandchildren Eric (Katie) Levell, Kara (Jonathan) Lindsay, Shanna (Joshua) Matthews, Alicia Russell, Virginia (Adam) Gardiner, and 5 great-grandchildren with another granddaughter expected in May, his sisters, Joyce Jackson and Christine (Bud) Taylor, and his first wife MaryAnn Malotte.

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Monday, January 27 at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home, 1947 E. Seminole, Springfield. A Celebration of Life service will be at 12 noon Tuesday, January 28 at Schweitzer United Methodist Church, 2747 E. Sunshine, Springfield. Interment with full military honors will follow at Missouri Veterans Cemetery, 5201 S. Southwood Road, at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations may be made to the Council of Churches of the Ozarks, P.O. Box 3947, Springfield, MO 65808, or online at ccozarks.org .