Dr. Jerry Lee Dickey

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Dr. Jerry Lee Dickey, who died at his home in Winslow, Arkansas, on June 10, 2026, just days before his 80th birthday. If there is one word that defines Jerry’s life, it is legacy. His legacy can be found in the family he loved, the physicians he taught and mentored, the profession he worked tirelessly to preserve, and the principles and convictions by which he lived. Jerry devoted more than three decades to the practice and teaching of osteopathic medicine. An exceptional clinician and passionate educator, he served on the teaching faculties of two of the nation’s leading osteopathic medical schools in Kirksville, Missouri, and Fort Worth, Texas. His influence reached far beyond the classroom as he taught and mentored physicians throughout the United States and internationally. He was particularly committed to preserving the history, philosophy, and foundational principles of osteopathic medicine, believing that understanding where the profession came from was essential to carrying it forward. In 2012, his lifetime of leadership, scholarship, teaching, and service was recognized with the Andrew Taylor Still Medallion of Honor, the highest honor awarded by the American Academy of Osteopathy. But Jerry’s life was never defined by medicine alone. He was a man of strong convictions, high standards, fierce loyalty, and unmistakable candor. Those who knew Jerry rarely had to wonder what he was thinking or where they stood with him. He spoke plainly, believed deeply in personal responsibility, and held himself and those around him to clear expectations. His honesty could be direct, sometimes even difficult, but it came from a man who had little interest in pretense and a strong sense of what he believed was right. Jerry could be equally fierce in protecting the people and principles that mattered to him. To Jerry, family was family. Biology was never the measure of belonging. Once someone was part of his family, he regarded them as such—with the same loyalty, expectations, protection, and sense of responsibility he extended to everyone he called his own. Perhaps the greatest example of Jerry’s devotion was his nearly 40-year marriage to his beloved wife, Kathie, the great love of his life. He stood beside and cared for her through her battles with multiple sclerosis, breast cancer, and a cerebral aneurysm. Following her death in 2006, his devotion to her never wavered. He carried his love for Kathie and her memory with him for the remainder of his life. He never remarried. In his late years, Jerry faced personal challenges, including dementia and depression. At times, those illnesses changed his mood, personality, and ability to respond to those around him. Some of the behaviors that emerged during those years were difficult for those who loved him. They were part of his illness, but they were not the measure of the man he had been. Those who knew Jerry throughout his life remember a much larger picture: his intellect, his convictions, his devotion to Kathie, his fierce loyalty to family, and his commitment to the profession to which he gave so much of his life. Jerry was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Kathie; his parents, Clifford and Vivian Dickey; his sister, Ann Haygood; and his granddaughter, Erin Merritt. He is survived by his brother, Jan Dickey; his children, David (Serena) Dickey and Jennifer (David) Parslow; his grandchildren, Jaden (Karla) Radcliffe, Johnny Radcliffe, Madison (Mason) Kaatman, Delaney Dickey, Arielle Merritt, Collin Dickey, Damia Merritt, Hunter Merritt, and Dylan Dickey; and his great-grandchildren, Kayden, Kia, and Kamden Radcliffe, and Kalihan Kaatman. He is also remembered by his nieces, nephews, extended family, friends, colleagues, students, and the countless physicians whose lives and careers were influenced by his teaching. Jerry leaves behind a legacy that cannot be measured by titles, honors, or accomplishments alone. It lives in the physicians he taught, the profession he helped preserve, the family he loved, and the principles he refused to compromise. His love was often expressed through responsibility, protection, loyalty, and steadfastness. He lived without much interest in appearances or pretense—you knew what Jerry believed, what he expected, and where he stood. His teachings will continue through those he mentored. His strength, candor, and convictions will remain familiar to those who knew him best. And his devotion to Kathie, his family, and the work to which he dedicated his life will remain the enduring legacy of Dr. Jerry Lee Dickey.

Dr. Jerry Lee Dickey

June 18, 1946 - June 10, 2026