Thomas "Tom" Harlowe Dockery of Hendersonville passed away Wednesday, March 22, 2006. He was born in Hot Springs, the son of the late Grover Harlowe Dockery and Grace Gauranflo Dockery. He was raised in the West Asheville and Riceville area, where his father was a chef for the Veterans Affairs Medical Center and his mother was a concert pianist. He attended Asheville High School and, in 1949, joined the Marine Corps. He played football for the Marines and was named All-Navy, All-Marine Football Most Valuable Player. He was known as "Stonewall" Dockery and served his country for four years. During his stint in the Marines, he met and, shortly afterward, married Rebecca Robinson Dockery of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., who died in May 2005. He attended the University of South Carolina in Columbia, S.C., graduating at the top of his class with a degree in business administration and accounting. In 1958, he moved to Jacksonville, Fla. He worked his way from USF∓G Insurance Co. and Duval Motors as controllers for both companies to owning his own accounting business called Accounting and Business Services Inc. As his family grew, he was very involved with his daughters' schools. He was PTA president and secretary of numerous other school support clubs. He was an active member of the Toastmasters of America and, at different times, was president of the Southeast Chapter in Northern Florida. He was also an active member of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, serving as secretary and treasurer. He was a professor of taxation at Jacksonville University and a member of the Northeastern Florida Chapter of the U.S. Accountants Association. In the 1960s, he was a country-Western songwriter and had his own publishing company. He also had a printing business and multi-tasked before anyone knew what that meant. He invested in the real estate venue of Victorian and historic homes, renovating them. He loved finding older homes and making them come alive again. He was a man of honor and integrity and raised his four daughters the same. He practiced what he preached. He played on numerous AAU Power Volleyball teams for more than 40 years and ran about 10 miles a day. He was and is our hero. As daughters, we viewed our dad as the perfect example of what we would look for in a future husband. People listened when he spoke, truly listened. He and his wife had a love that spanned almost 54 years. Even as afflicted as they both were, they helped each other and held hands and hugged as if it were to be their last. The legacy that he left to all who knew him will live for a lifetime. Each person who knew him felt his strength and the positivity that emulated from him. Every handshake he gave and each of his smiles meant so much to that person. Gosh, Dad, how we are going to miss you. You always made us think outside the box and use a more descriptive word for each emotion. He always had his business office in our home or within a mile of our home so he would always be available to us to talk and get advice. He worked hard and loved his family dearly. When he was tired of the rat race of Florida, he and his wife moved back to his mountains. The Toastmaster Club of Asheville reaped from his experience as did the Chamber of Commerce and the Lions Club. In the 1980s, he and his wife had "Rebecca Dee Arts," which was a fine arts and framing store in the Innsbruck Mall. This is where he had his accounting practice, also. He was asked many times to become a certified public accountant, to become a part of another business, but he loved being his own boss and independent. He ran his business for the small business owner. He was listed for 30 years in "Who's Who in Finance in the Southeast," "Who's Who in Finance in the United States," and "Who's Who in Finance in the World." He was a man who always gave people the benefit of the doubt and was so fair. They don't make men like him any more. He loved a nice, heated debate between friends and family. He and his wife were more in love before she died than even young couples who are still in the flush of a new marriage. It was a deep, wonderful love and everyone felt it and saw it in their eyes when they looked at each other. Oh my, the world is going to be more lonely since he went to be with his wife. But that is where he belongs and has ever wanted to be, together with his "Becca Dee." His survivors include his four daughters, Dot and her husband, Doug Wilder, of Jacksonville, Fla., Victoria JoAnne Block of Kansas City, Mo., Robin Bell and her husband, Danny, of Keystone Heights, Fla., and Jill Dockery Forrest of East Flat Rock; grandchildren, Oliver, Ben and Emily Wilder, Jeremy, Amanda and Sarah Bell, David and Stephen Forrest, Arthur Wheeler and his wife, Amy, and Andrew Block; and four great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to Four Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care, 571 S. Allen Road, Flat Rock, N.C. 28731. Jackson Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.


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