Resident Spotlight: Bill & Katy Dorsey

AN ACTIVE & REWARDING LIFE

Bill and Katy Dorsey met early in their lives. Together, they have had an active and rewarding life. However, Katy’s life had an unusual beginning:

Imagine what it would be like to have two names, two mothers, and to have been adopted at birth. Born to an unwed mother in 1947, Katy was taken to the now infamous Tennessee Children’s Home in Memphis. That was three years before the home was closed due to the exposure of an illegal baby trafficking operation.

Katy always knew she was adopted, and although she had wonderful Christian parents, a younger sister, and a delightful childhood, there was always that desire to know about her biological roots. In 1991, while watching television’s, “60 Minutes,” Katy learned that adoption records were now unsealed. She was able to contact her birth mother; they connected and remained close until her mother’s death in 2007.

Finding additional information, Katy also learned that at five days old, her name was Judith Ann Sellers, and she had been tentatively “purchased” by the Hollywood couple June Allison and Dick Powell. “Fortunately,” according to Katy, “I had also been promised to Ruby and Tony Johnston, and they won the contest! I went home with the Johnstons, and was given the name of Kathryn Wayne Johnston.”

Katy spent her first years in the Cooper-Young area of Memphis, attending Idlewild Elementary School; the family regularly attended Bellevue Baptist Church. The family later moved to East Memphis, and in 1965, Katy graduated from White Station High where she was active in social and sorority life.

Bill Dorsey was also born in Memphis in 1947. He lived the first ten years of his life in the Bethel Grove community. Bill says that he and his brothers spent their free time running and playing in an area “filled” with children. Bill’s mother taught school, and his father worked downtown “in cotton.” In 1957, the Dorsey family moved to East Memphis; their house located just around the corner from Katy’s home. Bill also attended White Station High School and participated in all the sports offered. According to Katy, “I was driven to school each morning, and I kept seeing this cute boy from my classes walking to school. It wasn’t long until Bill was riding in our car! As my mom used to say, ‘Katy chased Bill until he caught her’!”

Both Katy and Bill graduated high school in 1965. They continued as a couple but were separated due to different career choices. Bill chose to major in Engineering at the University of Tennessee; Katy remained in Memphis and graduated in three years from Memphis State University with a B.S. in Zoology, cum laude. During the summers, both worked– Katy in a dental office, and Bill for an oil company on President’s Island. In 1967, Katy was selected as a Princess for the Cotton Carnival. “That was such an enjoyable, memorable, and fun time,” remembers Katy.

One week following Katy’s graduation, she and Bill married, and she joined Bill in Knoxville for his senior year. They lived in student housing and both had jobs to support them. Following Bill’s graduation, the couple moved to Huntington, West Virginia, where Bill would be employed by International Nickel Company as Project Manager–for the next 30 years! According to Katy, life in Huntington was great for raising a family. Katy worked as assistant to a bank officer until their son, William Kevin, was born. Two and one-half years later, daughter Angela Kathryn was born.

Once the children began school, Katy again became employed as a dental assistant. Soon, an opportunity occurred to teach dental assisting and anatomy at Huntington Junior College; she taught there for 21 years. While living in Huntington, both Katy and Bill were involved in church and several community activities. They became avid golfers and supporters of sports at Marshall University.

In 2000, following retirement in Huntington, Katy and Bill moved to Collierville to be near family. Bill began a new career, this time with Fed Ex, working there until 2014. They continued golf at Windyke Golf Club, became loyal University of Memphis fans– especially basketball, and often followed the team to away games. They maintained their purpose to continue in community service and have volunteered many hours in multiple organizations, one being the Fed Ex St. Jude golf tournament. Grace Evangelical Church is their church home.

In 2002, the Dorsey’s welcomed their first (and only) grandchild, and Katy had a new “job” of babysitting their granddaughter, Emma Kathryn. They have been thrilled to watch her grow and be involved in her life, following all the numerous activities of a popular and active child. “Grandparenting,” says Katy, “is the greatest reward we have received!

For several years, Katy and Bill had looked forward to downsizing. In 2023, they chose a garden home at Kirby Pines because of the amenities offered, and their family and friends are nearby. Both Katy and Bill continue their church and several community activities, as well as those at Kirby Pines. They are also learning the “joys” of downsizing.

Written by Joan Dodson, Resident of Kirby Pines.