Michael Reece McVey

December 4, 1952 - January 1, 2022

Michael Reece McVey, age 69, of Seaford, Delaware passed away on January 1, 2022, after a valiant 4-year battle with cancer and related illness. Born in Washington DC, Mike graduated from Bishop McNamara High School, in Forestville, MD. At age 17, he was accepted into the apprentice machinist program sponsored by the U.S. Navy, and worked on projects at the Navy Research Lab in Washington, DC. As a civilian contractor, he later worked on components of a NASA space shuttle. Mike lived for many years in La Plata, MD, holding different jobs and for a time had his own carpentry business. During this time, three daughters came into his life, for which he was ever grateful and proud. While in La Plata, Mike started his career as a building supply salesman, working for the Mitchell Supply Company for several years. After moving to Delaware in 2000, he joined the Dukes Lumber Company in Laurel where he was a fixture at the sales counter. Mike loved working with his hands, and valued precision and craftsmanship in all that he did. He was generous in sharing his knowledge and skills with others. Customers, co-workers, friends and family regularly sought his advice. Along with working on various construction projects, Mike enjoyed hunting, fishing, riding his Harley Davidson motorcycles, and going to motorcycle races. He liked to travel and to visit family, including trips to Germany, England, Hawaii, Washington State, and the Carolinas. A 2005 trip to Ireland with his brothers was a highlight, and in 2017 he fulfilled a dream of riding motorcycles in Canada. Mike was a designated driver for the McVey’s annual pilgrimage to celebrate St Patrick’s Day at the Dubliner Irish Pub in Washington DC, where family, friends and regulars sang about a girl named “Alice.” Mike lived by the saying, “eat dessert first (and if you’re still hungry, eat more dessert)!” Mike is survived by his wife, Gwenyth Davis, his daughters, Janice Jacobs and her husband Neil of Kapolei, Hawaii, Katrina Worrel and her husband Bob of Pasadena, Maryland, and Elizabeth (Betsy) Colacicco and her husband Doug of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and his grandchildren Riley Searles, Dominic Colacicco and Katie Colacicco. He is also survived by his mother, Frances (Smith) McVey, five brothers James H. McVey III (Phillis), Dennis McVey (Amy), Patrick McVey (Angie), Brian McVey (Cora), and John McVey (Judy), four sisters Anne McVey (Bill Milligan) Joan McClure (Bill), Susan Flowers (Norris), and Sharon Davis (Alan), numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and in-laws of the Davis family. He is preceded in death by his father, James H. McVey Jr. A walk thru visitation will be held at the Central Worship Gymnasium, 14511 Sycamore Rd, Laurel, DE 19956, on Saturday, February 5, 2022 from 12pm-1pm. A Celebration of Life will be held at 1pm in the gymnasium. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, masks and social distancing will be required at all times. Pastor Timothy Dukes will be officiating. Family and friends are invited to share personal remembrances. Interment will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Tunnell Cancer Center, 18947 John J. Williams Hwy., Unit 101, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware 19971. Arrangements are in the care of the Hannigan, Short, Disharoon Funeral Home in Laurel, Delaware.