Obituary of Richard A. Dougherty

Richard A. Dougherty, Sr., 82, of Meridale, passed away at home on Wednesday morning, May 6, 2015 surrounded by his family. Born on August 17, 1932 in New Kingston, he was the son of the late William and Inez (Hosier) Dougherty. Richard married the love of his life Margaret E. Yerry Dougherty on September 2, 1953. In his earlier years, he was self-employed as a dairy farmer, he also worked on the Town of Delhi Highway Department, operated his own LP Gas Company and worked as a janitor for the former Ames Department Store and later for Nighthawk Cleaning of Binghamton, where he and Margaret retired from in 2011. He enjoyed gardening, picking blackberries and coin collecting, however Richard's greatest passion was taking care of his family. He was a loving husband, supportive father and a proud grandfather. Family meant everything to him. Besides his wife of 61 years, Margaret of Meridale; Richard is survived by seven children: Betty Barnett of Idaho, Mark (Eileen)Dougherty of Weare, NH, Cindy (Edward) Maciatek of Meridale, Lisa (John) Townsend of South Kortright, Andrew (Diana Mullett) Dougherty of South Kortright, Richard (Donna) Dougherty of Franklin and Matthew (Danielle) Dougherty of Meridale; a daughter-in-law: Lynn Dougherty; sisters: Eunice Ransom, Ida Pekrul and Alice Eckert all of New Kingston and Bessie Sturgess of California; brothers: Henry Dougherty of Alabama and Robert Dougherty of Marathon; 26 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren; along with many nieces, nephews and cousins. Richard was predeceased by a brother: William Joseph Dougherty; and sisters Lena May Clum, Wreatha Clum and Mary K. Fleming Friends and relatives are invited to call on the family form 4-8PM on Monday, May 11 at the Hall & Peet Funeral Home, 134 Main Street, Delhi, where a funeral service will be held at 11AM on Tuesday with the Rev. Mel Farmer officiating. Burial will follow at New Kingston Valley Cemetery. Contributions in memory of Richard may be made to Catskill Area Hospice. Please visit www.hallandpeet.com to share a story or a condolence with the family.