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Jerry Dorsey III was born on May 12, 1933 to Willie D. and Jerry Dorsey II in Birmingham, Alabama. He was the eldest of three children.

He attended primary and secondary schools in Birmingham, AL and then moved to Detroit, MI as a teenager with his family.

Jerry was a veteran of The United States Army and a member of the 73rd Tank Battalion. After the military, he went to Radio Electronic Television School; (RETS), in Detroit, MI and graduated on September 14, 1960. Jerry was then hired by the military aircraft division of The Boeing Company and moved to Washington State. After leaving Boeing in 1967, he worked for KING Broadcasting as an audio/visual engineer for 25 years before retiring April 1, 1993.

Prior to moving to Washington State, he met and married Anna C. Powell who preceded him in death. This union was blessed with the birth of Jerry Dorsey IV and KiKora R-T Dorsey (aka Donna M.).

While at Boeing he met and married Willa M. Carter, who also preceded him in death. This union was blessed with the birth of Rhonda L. Dorsey (aka Pooh).

On August 7, 1986 in Seattle, he married Rosella Braxton. They were married for 37 years until his passing and together, raised her son Phillip J. Heath.

Jerry was also a surrogate father to Darnez A. Dorsey (Andre) and Adenika Y. Jenkins (Yvette).

Jerry enjoyed spending time with his family and taking vacations. He traveled to Canada, Panama, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Japan, the Caribbean and all around the United States of America.

He enjoyed sports, all genres of music, sci-fi movies and cartoons as well as The Price Is Right television show.

Jerry was a mild mannered man who loved to argue. (As do his children and grandchildren 😂). He was known for his calm demeanor in a crisis and one of his favorite saying was “Don’t sweat the small stuff”. Jerry was an accomplished builder and renovated his home multiple times. He also designed and built furnishings for his house, sewed his own clothes, painted murals and loved taking pictures. Jerry was known for his stylish clothes which included a conglomerate of hats, T-Shirts, watches, glasses & Dickies; (pants). He also loved to bowl until arthritis made bowling painful. His recipe for salmon is beloved by the family. Jerry‘s favorite pet as a child was a dog named King. His favorite food was Mexican and he loved Beer, Rum & Coke and Margarita’s!

Jerry was preceded in death by his Mother Willie D. Dorsey and Father Jerry Dorsey II both of Detroit, Michigan, Sister Mrs. Alberta McGimpsey of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Brother Willie James Dorsey of Detroit, Michigan.

He leaves not to mourn his passing but to forever rejoice in his memory his wife Rosella Braxton of Buckeye, AZ; son Jerry Dorsey IV, (Jeanette) of Detroit, MI; Daughter KiKora Dorsey of Buford, GA; Son Andre Dorsey (Charlene) of Orangeburg, SC; Daughters Adenika Jenkins (Robert) of Winston-Salem, NC and Rhonda Dorsey of Seattle, WA. Grandchildren; Neliswa N. Dorsey, Sherrell A. Dorsey, Ayanda M. Dorsey (Brian) and Otis B. Stevenson, Jr. A Great-Granddaughter Ava N. Dorsey and a blended family of In-Laws, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

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My Dearest Jerry,

We had to prove to ourselves that we could make it past our prior relationships.  After 5 years, then 10 years, we both said that now we can start building something neither of us had before.  We enjoyed our life together without an audience.  We built routines that included favorite places to eat out at and family vacations.  I am so glad that we got to spend time here in Arizona before you couldn’t walk.  These last two birthdays have been the greatest.  What a beautiful surprise last year with the whole Dorsey Family here Celebrating your 90th Birthday.  It was the best surprise ever.  This year it was great also, one of your friends from King Broadcasting and his son and daughter-in-law plus my brother and sister-in-law were here for your 91st Birthday.  Also, your daughter Rhonda setup Zoom for friends and family to come on to wish you a Happy Birthday.  It was great to see how excited you were to have your cake and ice cream before eating anything.  I will always Love You Forever and Ever.  I Miss You So Much.

Rosella