Barbara Dawn Doherty

    Barbara Dawn (Clark) Doherty, the daughter of Paul and Ada (Tuttle) Clark, was born September 14, 1933, in rural Egan SD. She was the eldest of seven children, three brothers and three sisters. She attended the Egan Community Schools and then worked for a corner drug store and later a heating contractor in Sioux Falls, SD.  She was united in marriage to Raymond J. Doherty September 29, 1952.  They resided at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho while Raymond served in the U.S. Air Force and was deployed to the southwest Pacific islands of Guam and Eniwetok.  Raymond was honorably discharged in 1955 and completed his higher education using the GI bill.  He later entered the high school education and coaching professions starting as a teacher and coach at Danbury St. Mary’s Catholic School Danbury, IA  and finally retiring as the Superintendent of Sioux Valley Community Schools Peterson and Linn Grove, IA in 1992. During these times they resided in Danbury IA, Avoca IA, Dexter IA, Britt IA, Crystal Lake IA, and finally Peterson IA.

     In 1962 they began their own family with three children Clark, Scott and Erin. While raising her three children in Peterson, she began working part time at Midwest Christians Home in rural Peterson where she was a bookkeeper and planner, and often times much more to all the children at the home. She finally retired at age 76 and they began their retirement together by moving to Spencer, IA.  They continued to attend their monthly ballroom dances around NW Iowa with their many dance club friends. They attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spencer. Barb then began another career as greeter and volunteer at Spencer Memorial Hospital while Ray received his dialyses treatments. On, February 6, 2015,  Barb lost the love of her life when Raymond passed away.

     Since then she has been residing in Shady Oaks Nursing Home in Lake City, IA.  where she became the grandma to everyone. She loved talking with all the nurses, caregivers and their children who regularly came to see her to show off costumes, wedding plans and sharing their lives with her. She enjoyed watching the Hallmark channel and reading novels, often finishing a book in a single day. 

     Preceding her in death were her parents; Paul and Ada, infant brother Paul Jr., three sisters Sharon Ford, Marion Miller and Roberta “Bert” Reimers. Left to cherish her memory are her three children; Clark (Donna) of Harvest, AL; Scott (Lynne) of Rockwell City, IA; and Erin Doherty-Lemon of Grimes, IA; three Brothers; Bob Clark (Beverly) of Brookings, SD; Rodney (Tanya) Clark of Egan, SD, and Larry (Lisa) Clark of Brookings, SD. five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.

    In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Midwest Christian Services in honor of Barbara Doherty. MCS is committed to “Building Better Lives” and supporting those who needed a “home away from home” where Barb worked for nearly 33 years. 

           Midwest Christian Services

4509 20th Avenue, Peterson, IA 51047

Phone: 712-295-7601 |  Fax: 712-295-7600

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