Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Thomas Walter Doggett, Sr., age 82, of York, died on Jan. 10 at Anderson Regional Health System in Meridian, Mississippi. Funeral services with family tributes by his children were held on Jan. 14 at Bumpers Funeral Home in York, with a prior one-hour visitation. A graveside service followed at York Cemetery with Johnny Doggett officiating. Bumpers Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Doggett, born in York, was a 1959 graduate of Sumter County High School in York. Voted by his classmates as “Most Fun To Be With” his senior year, “Tank,” as he was known on the football field, was a proud member of the undefeated SCHS 1959 State A Champs-Warrior Conference football team. He attended East Mississippi Junior College and Livingston University.

In his later years, he enjoyed hunting, camping with his family, fishing on the Tombigbee River, and vacationing on the Alabama Gulf Coast. He loved his hometown of York and, during his business years, started his work day off with friends over a morning cup of coffee at Peppa’s Restaurant. On Friday nights, he could be found at Wild Turkey Stadium cheering at the top of the bleachers for the Sumter Academy Eagles. Owner of Doggett Construction for over six decades, Mr. Doggett was a master craftsman and built hundreds of homes and commercial buildings in Sumter County, throughout Alabama, and in surrounding states. Several of his best-known projects include renovating a 1920s automobile repair shop into the Coleman Center for the Arts in York, and the Campbell Environmental Education Center located on The University of West Alabama campus. A loving husband, father, grandfather, sibling, uncle, and friend — he will be missed by many.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John Toby Doggett and Ada Plummer “Plum” Shepherd Doggett; sister, Judy Doggett Dial; son-in-law, George Patterson; and sister-in-law, Chris Tartt Doggett.

Survivors include his wife of 61 years: Patricia Ann Clarke Doggett; three children: Gena Doggett Robbins (Al), Tom Doggett (Joanne Morrison, former spouse), and Sherry Doggett Patterson; grandchildren: Creed Robbins (Kaia Greene), Kate Robbins (Brooke), Benjamin Doggett, and Jack Doggett; two brothers: Johnny Doggett (Sandy) and Toby Doggett; brother-in-laws: Alva “Junior” Clarke (Jeanne) and Lindsey Dial (Diane), and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers are his grandsons: Creed Robbins and Benjamin Doggett; and nephews: Damian Doggett, Ted Doggett, Phillip Etheridge, Dylan Dawson, Alva Clarke, Toby Ziebach, and Johnathan Gordy.