Jimmy Con Dorsey was born June 24, 1936, in Konawa, Oklahoma. He arrived in Heaven on April 29, 2026, at the age of 89.
Jim moved with his family to Oklahoma City when he was a young boy. They lived in Southeast Oklahoma City, and he graduated from Capitol Hill High School in 1955.
Jim was always a worker. He threw newspapers as a young boy, then went to work at Berger Brothers Grocery Store while in high school and college. He started out sacking groceries for customers and worked his way up to be a producemanager.Jimoften spoke of his time working at the grocery store. He learned many lifelong lessons and took pride in providing for himself at a young age. Jim then went to workforOklahomaNatural Gas. He worked there for a few years until he decided to enter the ministry. He graduated from Central State University and attended seminary at Phillips University. Jim was a Methodist minister for 20 years at several churches in Oklahoma and Texas.
After he retired from preaching, he went to work for Levi Strauss, where he was a training manager in distribution centers. Jim got to travel during his time with Levi and was thankful to see several wonderful places. He worked for Levi Strauss for 20 years, then retired and moved to Florida. Jim built his home in Florida by himself. To include creating a sawmill to harvest the lumber for his home off his property. He built a beautiful home on a small lake in Florida and developed several friendships in that area. While in Florida, he began sailing. He purchased a few sailboats over the years and enjoyed sailing the Florida coast and the Gulf ofAmerica with his “sailing buddies.”
Jim loved family. Especially his boys, Trey and Tim, and his grandchildren. He never missed a graduation ceremonyforanyofhis grandchildren, no matter how far away it was. Some of his most fond memories were of the churches he served and attended, his “39 Ford”, his trip to Israel, skiing trips with Trey and Tim, hiking trips with Trey and Tim, sailing with his Florida friends, camping, traveling, and learning. He loved to be outside.
Jim loved education and encouraged all he knew to continue learning throughout their lives. He was an avid reader, always reading at least two or three books and his Bible until the day of his death. All his books were littered with handwritten notes detailing his thoughts. He loved helping and encouraging others, especially those who were less fortunate. He rarely said anything negative about anyone and chose to be thankful every day. In his last years, he often said, “The good Lord sure has blessed me.” Even until the day of his death, when he was physically and mentally exhausted, he asked Tim, “What can I do for you?”
He is preceded in death by his parents, Ruth and Laurie Dorsey, siblings Larry Dorsey, Maxine Morris,andCharlieDorsey. Survivors include his children and their families: Trey and Wanda Dorsey, Tim and Tracie Dorsey, six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
A celebration of Jim’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, May 22, 2026, at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Shawnee. Arrangements are under the direction of Lehman Funeral Home of Wellston.