The Dougherty family lost our leader yesterday. After 88 years, Ed Dougherty’s heart finally just quit beating while he was sleeping. What a gentle way to leave this world.
Doc was special to me from the very beginning. On the night Kevin and I told his parents that we were getting married and looking for a new church (read–not Catholic), the initial conversation didn’t go very well. After dinner at a little French restaurant, Kevin and his mother continued the intense discussion back at the vacation condo on the balcony while Doc and I, seated on the couch, watched through the sliding glass door.
Awkwardness grew as Pat and Kevin went nose to nose. I had say something, so I said, “I really do love him.” Doc kept staring ahead, patted me on my knee, and said, “I know you do. I know you do.” He may have known, but I wasn’t really so sure right then. I was a little worried that I’d just lied to my future father-in-law.
A few years later when we vacationed with them in Florida, Hattie and one of the boys got sick overnight. Kevin was on a business trip for a day or two. Doc went with me to a pediatrician’s office. As we waited in the car for the medicine, Hattie went into a febrile seizure. I was frazzled to say the least and started showing it. He patted my knee again and said, “Don’t lose it on me now.”
His quiet, calm, firm words helped me pull it together and carry on.
In my mind, he was almost always quiet and calm.
Except , that is, when he was cheering at his grandchildren’s soccer games. I used to slip down the sidelines away from him so that people wouldn’t connect me with the loud man yelling at the referees. Kevin had to remind him several times the referees were teenagers!
He loved his grandchildren! He loved all his family, and we loved him.
Here’s to you, Doc! I’m grateful to have been your daughter-in-law!
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