The Pinecone

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.

MUSICIAN EXTRAORDINAIRE

Music provides one of the joys of life. There is scientific evidence that listening to music uses all parts of the brain, thereby enhancing brain cognitive function. It is also known that playing a musical instrument increases these benefits. A recent study reported by Penn Medicine News, indicated that even beginning to play the piano between 60-85 years of age maintained the cognitive functions significantly! Residents of Kirby Pines have a unique exposure to a variety of musical performances. We are fortunate to have many residents who are talented musicians; one is Janie Smith, who performs as pianist for Vespers, Sunday morning worship services, the health areas, memorials and as primary pianist for our choral group, The Entertainers.

Lois Jane (Janie) Provence was born in a small community close to Knoxville, Tennessee. She had a sister who was 13 years old and a brother who was nine when she was born. According to Janie, “I think they would have been much happier without the interruptions of a baby sister.” As a child she remembers her greatest joy was swinging and singing and riding her bicycle. Janie attended elementary and secondary schools in Knox County. She began taking piano lessons when she was nine years old and was allowed to leave her school for the lessons. Janie’s goal was to be able to play the piano in church. She got that opportunity when she was 12 years old; the regular pianist at their church was absent one Sunday. A man who attended that church heard her play and asked her to play for his quartet. With them, Janie would travel to many revivals, homecomings, and special services at other churches. While in high school, Janie played piano for two choirs and graduation services.

Following graduation from high school, Janie enrolled and graduated from the two-year Knoxville Business School program. She began employment at Merrill-Lynch, for whom she worked for 21 years.

Soon after her graduation and beginning her employment at Merrill-Lynch, Janie was invited to her best friend’s church. Her friend wanted her to meet someone “she was crazy about” and wanted to date. That someone happened to be Edgar Earl Smith. Well, no surprises how this turned out! Earl’s father kept reminding him about that cute, blond girl that occasionally visited and played the piano at church. Janie had also been recruited to play for another gospel quartet and was traveling with them to other churches. Eventually, Earl asked Janie for a date. They were married a year later (1960) in the same church where they met. They would live in Knoxville where they were both employed.

Janie decided that she wanted to learn to play the organ and enrolled in lessons. In 1985, she decided to begin learning the pipe organ, a more complicated instrument. She contacted an instructor, and with her previous talent, she quickly learned. With her teacher’s encouragement, she gave a performance at the Fist Baptist Church in Knoxville in 1990. Also, Janie and Earl learned of a church, First Baptist Concord in Farragut, Tennessee, which was close to Knoxville. The church had a wonderful choir and needed someone to replace the retiring organist. Janie would play the organ for that church for many years as well as piano for two ladies choirs that sang for civic groups and different venues.

Janie and Earl lived and worked in Knoxville until 1992 when Earl was transferred to Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was the Operations Manager for American Limestone Company, a division of Asarco Corporation. The primary business was selling crushed rock for paving roads. Earl, needing a change, chose to begin employment for a similar company, Martin Marietta Materials in Indiana, and finally, a move to Maryland for similar work. Earl retired in 2003, and Janie and Earl moved back home to Knoxville. Both enjoyed the retirement life: having a large garden, Earl playing golf, and Janie continuing her music. They were also “die-hard” University of Tennessee football fans and were season tickets holders for 40 years! They attended many away games after retirement.

In 2018, Janie and Earl made the decision to move to Memphis to be close to family members. Both were beginning to experience health issues. They looked at several places and were glad to learn about the continual care options available at Kirby Pines. The decision was made to move to Kirby Pines in 2018. Earl is now a resident of Job’s Way, our memory care unit. Janie visits him daily and frequently plays the piano for the residents there.

Janie and Earl were a godsend to Kirby Pines. Not only is Janie a wonderful pianist, her positive attitude and warm personality make for pleasant associations. She gives so freely of her time to play for many of the musical venues at Kirby. She definitely has filled a void with her talent. 

Janie misses those East Tennessee mountains but enjoys living at Kirby Pines. She especially appreciates the friendly people and staff and all the amenities that are available. She enjoys yoga and is pleased to be able to share her musical talents. Thank you, Janie and Earl, for making the decision to be a part of the Kirby community!

Written by Joan Dodson, Resident of Kirby Pines.