The Dockerty Family has a heartfelt passion for serving seniors, guided by a simple philosophy: Treat everyone the way we would like to be treated. This spirit of compassion extends to residents, families, staff, and all who walk through our doors — creating communities built on love, respect, and connection.
Don and Mary Dockerty first discovered their passion for serving seniors while working together at a nursing home in southwestern Michigan, where Don served as Administrator and Mary as Director of Nursing. Guided by their Christian faith and a simple but powerful principle — to treat everyone the way they would like to be treated — they opened the first Dockerty Family Senior Community in Bridgman, MI in 1997.
The Dockertys were committed to not only serving the residents in their community, but also to serving their team members and the families who entrusted the care of their loved ones to them. This dedication to service is the cornerstone the family business was built upon and continues to shape the culture of all the Dockerty communities to this day.
As the need for senior living communities grounded in these family values has grown over the years, the Dockertys have now expanded across Michigan with the help of their sons, Timothy and Todd. Their daughter, Tonya, and several other family members have also joined the team, making this a multigenerational family business rooted in service, compassion, community, and hands-on leadership.
Today, the Dockerty family continues to personally support each of their communities and remains committed to the same guiding principle Don and Mary established over 25 years ago — to treat every resident, every family member and every team member as they would like to be treated.
1997 AND BEFORE:
Mary and Don Dockerty opened their first Woodland Terrace Senior Living Community in Bridgman, Michigan, in 1997. Don had previously been the administrator for a skilled nursing facility for several decades with Mary working as his Director of Nursing for the previous 10 years. Having a passion for our elders, Mary and Don saw the need for assisted living in southwest Michigan. Woodland Terrace of Bridgman was a family endeavor with their three children helping through the initial opening phase.
1997
The Dockerty family established Dockerty Health Care Services as the parent company to manage all existing and future Dockerty properties.
1999
Timothy Dockerty started officially working with Woodland Terrace as the Executive Director.
2002
Todd Dockerty started working for Woodland Terrace.
2010
Woodland Terrace at Longmeadow, was the second Senior Living Community to open in Niles, Michigan.
2014
The Dockerty family opened Woodland Terrace of Paw Paw Lake in Coloma, Michigan.
2015
Tonya Margaritis, the Dockerty’s daughter began working for the family business as the Executive Director of the Bridgman campus, making it truly a family business.
2020
The Dockerty’s purchased Heritage Assisted Living and Reflections Memory Care. Both located in Battle Creek, Michigan.
2021
Beacon Pointe Assisted Living, located in Richland, Michigan & Woodland Terrace, located in St. Joseph, Michigan opened to new residents.
CURRENTLY
Timothy Dockerty is the CEO and Todd Dockerty is COO for Dockerty Health Care Services. Both Tim and Todd are in each of the buildings on a weekly basis interacting with residents, families and staff.