Dickerson Tattersall

1936 - 2025

Dickerson Tattersall, 88, of Brookville, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025.
Tattersall was born on August of 1936 in Troy, New York. His family later moved to Greensburg, where he graduated from high school before attending Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
In 1958, Tattersall began his career at BASD, where he would eventually retire after 35 years. It was then that he took on the nickname "Mr. T," since the students had such a hard time pronouncing his last name. Tattersall started out in the vocal department. Later he went on to teach band and was responsible for starting the district's string department. However, Tattersall spent the majority of his career in BASD in the band department.
Aside from teaching classes, Tattersall was also involved in putting on the district's musical productions, first as minstrel shows and then moving on to perform popular Broadway musicals.
Tattersall also started two student barbershop quartets, which traveled all over the area performing. He composed many of their arrangements, some of which are published.
After his retirement from BASD, Tattersall continued to find new opportunities to teach and perform music in the area. He was a substitute teacher for the Punxsutawney School District, and his work there earned him a place in the district's National Association for Music Education.
He also taught for two years at the Punxsutawney Christian School and directed the church choir at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Brookville. He also directed the DuBois Area Band up until 2023.
Overall, Tattersall says he is grateful for the inspirations and friendships he has encountered after 60 years of playing music. "It was a way to make a living first," he admitted. "But it was a pleasant way because the friendships of all the people that I learned to know who were involved, the musicians and the public. Music is happy stuff."
Tattersall is a member of the Knights of Columbus the 3rd and 4th degree.
Tattersall is survived by his wife, Frances Tattersall; one son, Michael C. Tattersall; one daughter, Michele M. Imes; one sister, Judith A Hatchett; two granddaughters, Alicia Travis and fiancé Nate Pyles and Emily (Lorne) Hyskell; and one great-grandson, Theodore Hyskell.
In addition to his parents, Tattersall was preceded in passing by one daughter, Charlene A. Tattersall.
Family and friends will be received on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Church, 129 Graham Ave, Brookville, PA 15825. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held immediately following the visitation, beginning at 11 a.m. and officiated by Father William Laska. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the McKinney – d'Argy Funeral Home, 345 Main St., Brookville, PA 15825.
Interment will take place at St. Mary's Cemetery, Rose Township, Jefferson County. Memorial contributions may be made to the DuBois Area Community Band, 413 Randall Court, DuBois, PA 15801.
Online condolences and other information may be found by visiting www.dargyfh.com.