Mr. Dockery is a Traverse City native and his family has belonged to Trinity since 1888.  Dockery attended Concordia Lutheran College in Ann Arbor, Michigan, graduating with an A.A.  He transferred to Concordia University in River Forest, Illinois, and graduated with a B.A. in Education and Language Arts.  He completed a Masters in Social Work (MSW) from Michigan State University and continued post graduate studies in Education.

            Dockery taught at Grace Lutheran School in Auburn, Michigan.  At Grace, he taught various grades and departmentalized subjects while also serving as principal for ten years.  For a twelve year period, Dockery practiced Clinical Social Work in a medical setting, was administrator of a human service agency, and was administrator of  a psychiatric facility.  During his time away from the classroom,  Dockery continued to serve the larger church by assisting in pastoral vacancies and active involvement in various boards of Trinity.