Oct. 20, 1940 – Aug. 8, 2021
Roger Lee Dorsey of Brownsville, peacefully passed away in his sleep on the evening of Aug. 8, 2021. He was 80 years old.
Roger was the fourth son of Murrel and VeElda (Trout) Dorsey. He was born on Oct. 20, 1940, in Poole, W.V.. Roger graduated from Nicholas County High School in 1958 and joined the Air Force in 1959.
While stationed in Tacoma, Wash., in the Air Force, he fell in love with the West Coast and wanted to live in the Northwest.
He was honorably discharged in 1963. He married Marie Martin Coral and adopted her daughter, Faith Ann, in 1963 in Syracuse, N.Y.
They then moved to Noti. While living in Noti they had three children, Nanette, Walter and Ken.
Roger was also a large part of building the Noti Fire Station and became the fire chief of the Elmira-Noti Fire Department.
Roger and Marie danced with the Route F Twirlers while they lived in Noti. Roger received his associate’s degree from Lane Community College in maintenance when he became a millwright.
The family moved to Brownsville in 1976 so Roger could be closer to his work, the paper mill in Halsey.
After a short break, he joined the Brownsville Fire Department where he moved up the ranks and became fire chief.
While in Brownsville he was active not only with the Fire Department, but also the Sweet Home Squarenaders, the Pioneer Picnic and pitching horseshoes.
He retired from the Fire Department in 1992 and took up golfing, his new passion. He retired from the paper mill in 2003 and enjoyed his grandchildren and “working” in his shop.
He is survived by his wife, Marie Dorsey; children Nanette and Jeff Holmes, Walter Dorsey, and Ken and Joni Dorsey; sister Janet Lake; and brother Wayne Dorsey.
He had seven grandchildren, Matthew, Kyle and Eric Holmes, Gracie Sidel, Manny, Gabe and Mary Dorsey; and three great- grandchildren, Violet, Scarlett and Grey Sidel.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Murrel and VeElda (Trout) Dorsey; his sister, Muriel Evelyn; and his brothers, William, Carl and Charles Dorsey.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 21, at St. Helen Catholic Church in Sweet Home. An open house will follow, at 1 p.m. at 106 Kisling Ave., Brownsville.
A private graveside service will be held at Sailor Pioneer Cemetery in Noti.
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.