John H. “Red” Dockery, 95, of Bradley County, TN, died on Sunday, January 20, 2013.
Mr. Dockery was a member of First Baptist Church for over 70 years, and a longtime member of the Manley Sunday School class. He retired from Bradley County Government where he served as Bradley County Trustee from 1966-1982. He also retired from Southern Railroad where he served from 1941-1966, as the yard engineer. He was very community-oriented and was a past member of the Boy’s and Girl’s Club, the Lions Club, the Republican Party, Bradley County Old Timers Hall of Fame Selection Committee, and the Oak Grove Ruritan Club.
An avid athlete as a youth, Mr. Dockery served as captain of the football team, basketball team, and baseball team while playing at Bradley Central High in 1937. He was named All-State in all three sports while at Bradley, as well as being President of the Senior Class. He signed and played professionally for the Detroit Tiger baseball organization out of high school and later played football at Tennessee Wesleyan College. He was also an inductee of the Bradley County Old Timers Hall of Fame and the Bradley Central High School Basketball Hall of Fame.
Mr. Dockery was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanette Gibson Dockery; and his son, Rex Dockery.
Mr. Dockery is survived by his daughter, Pam Dockery Mull and son-in-law, Bill Mull; his grandchildren, Johnny Mull, Tracy Maples and Billy Maples, Trey Dockery and Debbie Dockery and Dee Dockery; his seven great-grandchildren, Jessica Maples, Lyndsey Maples, Kelsey Mull, Chase Dockery, Dylan Dockery, Lyles Dockery and John Rex Dockery; and daughter-in-law, Wallene Dockery Leek; and many extended family members and friends.
A Celebration of Life and Home Going of John H. "Red" Dockery will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, January 24, in the chapel of Fike Funeral Home with Pastor Jim Gibson officiating. Interment will follow in Hilcrest Memorial Gardens with Rudy Ownbey, Jim Ownbey, Steve Gibson, Gary Gibson, Johnny Mull, Billy Maples, Trey Dockery, Larry Dockery and J.J. Link serving as pallbearers. The service will conclude with a white dove release ceremony.
His family will receive friends from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, January 23, at the Fike Funeral Home who has charge of the arrangements.
The family suggests that memorials/donations in honor of John H. "Red" Dockery may be sent to: The Red Dockery Foundation Scholarship in c/o Rodgers Group, 400 Stuart Road, Cleveland, TN 37312