Frank Doherty Obituary

DOHERTY, Frank Frank Doherty died peacefully on Wednesday, September 28, 2005, at Good Samaritan Village Special Care Unit in Moscow, Idaho, with his daughter, Pat, by his side. His death was a result of a recently sustained pelvic fracture complicated by age, Alzheimer's disease and chronic anemia. He was 89. Frank was born in Charleston, South Carolina, on January 26, 1916. He was the last of five children born to John Schachte and Elizabeth Bean Doherty. He was a graduate of Murray Vocational High School and Rice Business College in Charleston and attended the University of Tennessee. As a young man, he worked for the Civilian Conservation Corp and enlisted in the United States Navy in 1940. He attained the rank of Chief Petty Officer serving on a military transport vessel in the South Pacific. His greatest test of bravery and leadership occurred during the battle of Okinawa, as soldiers were ferried from his ship to the beach, with Japanese Kamikazes flying overhead. On June 21,1941, he married Gloria Beatrice Edwards, his beloved Sugar , in New Orleans, Louisiana. There they made their home and welcomed two children into their family, Frank, Jr. on March 3, 1943 and Patricia Ann on February 18, 1944. When the war ended in 1945, he was honorably discharged from the Navy. They moved to Charleston where he worked as a stenographer for a short time. When the opportunity arose to go to work for the railroad in Jacksonville, Florida, Frank packed up his family and took the first step of many in his long and illustrious career with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway. From Jacksonville to Cincinnati to Louisville to Knoxville to Pittsburgh to Chicago and Detroit they went, each move bringing with it a promotion which Frank and Gloria almost always welcomed with delight. The most difficult move was from Knoxville where they had made many lifelong friends. That is where Frank's love of golf began and where the infamous LOWASSAH brotherhood was born; the meaning of which is clear: Loyal Order of Wednesday and Saturday Slicers and Hookers. During this time of many moves over many years, lean to prosperous, he worked his way from stenographer to Sales Manager within the Chessie System. Although he lacked a college degree, he became the Past President of the American Society of Traffic and Transportation. He excelled in public speaking and was a member of Toastmasters International. He. was a former member of the B.P.O. Elks Lodge # 242 in Charleston. When Frank retired in 1976, they returned to Charleston. They were most blessed in the years that followed. They spent many winters in the inland waterways along the coasts from Charleston to southern Florida and into the Gulf of Mexico aboard their sailboat, aptly named Sugar . Frank's love affair with golf continued for as long as he was able to hold a golf club. His love affair with Gloria not only continued but grew more and more precious with the passage of time. Theirs was indeed a match made in heaven, for which they never stopped thanking God. They were exceptionally faithful to their Catholic faith, always planning ahead so that no matter where they were, Sunday Mass was included in those plans. Just days before Christmas, 1987, tragedy struck their lives. Their son, Skip (Frank, Jr.), was reported missing at sea. After an extensive search, it was determined that the fishing boat on which he and three others were passengers had gone down and that there were no survivors. With God's help and time they were able to overcome this great loss and regain their love for life. Everyone who knew Frank and Gloria could see at once the special bond that held them so close. This bond was broken on May 17, when Gloria died from recurrent breast cancer. We who knew and loved him will miss Frank's quick smile and gracious manner; his love of a good joke and good fellowship; his Irish laughter and his generous spirit. He will live in our hearts forever. Besides his beloved wife and only son, Frank was preceded in death by his mother, father , two sisters, Bernadine D. Anderson, Beatrice D. Hiser; two brothers Raymond B. Doherty and John S. Doherty, Jr. He is survived by his daughter and her husband, Pat and Sam Monger of Moscow, Idaho; Skip's wife, Judy C. Doherty of Satellite Beach, Florida; Gloria's sister and her husband, Jean E. and Thomas T. Galt of Spartanburg, South Carolina; brother-in-law Wilson S. Bradham of Bonneau, South Carolina; sister-in-law Dee Edwards of Hanahan, South Carolina; five grandsons, David M. Monger of Kuna, Idaho; Frank L. (Trey) Doherty, III, his wife, Ann and two sons, Tyler and Noah of Fort Meyers, Florida; Sean P. Doherty of Port Charlotte, Florida; Michael C. Doherty of Gainesville, Florida; Ryan S. Doherty of Satellite Beach, Florida; two granddaughters, Ann M. Preuit, her husband, Ryan J. and two sons, Cole and Blaine of Ritter, Oregon; Laura Larson and her husband, Curtis C. of Boise, Idaho; and numerous nieces and nephews and their families. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM Saturday, Oct. 8, 2005 at St. Mary's Catholic Church. The Rite of Committal will be at Riverview Memorial Park. The family will receive friends this Friday evening, between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM at the JAMES A. MCALISTER FUNERAL HOME, 1620 Savannah Hwy. The Vigil Service will be held a 7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial donation to any organization providing help to the victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Arrangements are by James A. McAlister, Inc., 766-1365. Visit our guestbook at www.charleston.net/deaths.