Willard “Mickey” Matthew Dorsey

Willard Matthew Dorsey, “Mickey”, age 76, passed away peacefully Tuesday, March 26th, 2024, after a long battle with cancer. Mickey was born September 25th, 1947, in Savannah, Georgia. His senior year of high school he served as Commander of the ROTC and joined the Georgia Army National Guard and trained as a paratrooper. This earned him an appointment to the US Military Academy at West Point. During his first semester, he met and fell in love with his sweetheart, Linda Exley, of Springfield, Georgia and returned home to marry in 1968. They moved to Atlanta and Mickey graduated from Georgia Tech in 1972 with a Mechanical Engineering degree.

Mickey began his career as a draftsman at Union Camp and Paper Corporation and a Machine Designer at the Savannah River Nuclear Plant. During this time, their son Jeff was born. He was hired by Michelin as a founding team member to spend 18 months in France to implement the opening of Michelin’s first plant in Greenville, SC. Upon the return to Greenville, their daughter, Stephanie was born.

Mickey’s love of antique cars originated while working with his grandfather and uncles throughout childhood. He followed his dream after Michelin and opened his own antique restoration business, Mechanical Enterprises Incorporated. During this time, his team professionally restored more than 25 antique automobiles and earned numerous awards. He was an active member of the Antique Automobile Association and served several leadership roles. Mickey left his legacy with a 1922 Anderson Touring Car permanent exhibition displayed in the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia, South Carolina.

Mickey’s career included time at Cryovac and Hartness and continued after retirement as a consultant producing Solid Works 3-D designs for entrepreneurs to turn ideas into products or prototypes with some now available commercially.

In the years before his illness, he was constantly designing and “improving” concepts and ideas and has left this creative spirit with his dear friends and family. He remained a proud “Ramblin’ Reck” of Georgia Tech and attended the 75th reunion celebrating with family and friends. He was a heck of an engineer.

Mickey is survived by his wife of 55 years, Linda Exley Dorsey; his son, Jeffrey Alan Dorsey, and his wife Paula; his daughter, Stephanie Hall, and her husband Stephen; his nephew, Jason Stewart; and grandchildren Noah Nicholson, Mollie Nicholson, Eden Hall, Henry Dorsey, and Layton Hall.

Memorials may be made to Service Dogs for Veterans. SD4V training Center, 109 Woodruff Industrial Lance, Greenville, SC 29607 or www.SC4V.org.

The family is grateful to the many friends and neighbors for their tremendous love and support. Additionally, they would like to express their sincere thanks and appreciation to Wren Hospice for the special care they provided. Private services will be scheduled at a later date.