Raymond Joseph Doherty, the son of Raymond and Mary (Spain) Doherty, was born January 17, 1932, in Rock Valley, IA. He received his early education and graduated from Rock Valley High School in 1949. Ray served in the United States Air Force from 1951-1955 as a Control Tower Operator with the rank of Staff Sergeant with two years overseas duty in the South Pacific. Raymond was united in marriage to Barbara Clark on September 29, 1952, in Sioux Falls, SD, and to this union three children were born.
Following his military duty, he furthered his education and received a B.A. degree from Yankton College, Yankton, SD, in 1960, with a major in Political Science; received a M.A. degree from Drake University with a major in Guidance and Counseling in 1965; and in 1971, Raymond received a Specialist degree from Drake University with a major in School Administration. Ray taught and coached at Danbury, Iowa, 1960-1962; taught at Dexfield Community School in 1963 while working on his Master's Degree at Drake; from 1965-1969, Ray was the Guidance Counselor at Britt Community School; during 1969-70 school year, he was Principal at Woden-Crystal Lake Community School and moved up to Superintendent in 1971; and in 1972, became Superintendent of the Sioux Valley Community School of Peterson and Linn Grove until his retirement in 1993. In 1973, Ray received a State of Iowa Life Saving Award from Governor Ray. Ray was a member of the Iowa Association of School Administrators; former president of North Iowa IPGA; member of both boys and girls Athletic Associations as an official, and worked girls' softball State Tournaments; served on the Advisory Board of Area III Education Agency; member of the Lions Club of Peterson, IA, and American Legion. Ray was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spencer. In his 'spare' time, Ray enjoyed playing cards, golfing, fishing and ballroom dancing as they belonged to various dance clubs. Preceding him in death were his parents, and two sisters: Irene Kosters and Frances Gacke.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Barbara of Spencer, IA; two sons: Scott and wife, Lynne of Rockwell City, IA; Clark and wife, Donna of Harvest, Alabama; one daughter, Erin Doherty-Lemon of Adel, IA; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; one brother from Brandon, SD; other relatives and many friends.
SERVICES
Funeral Services will be held at 10:30A.M., Tuesday, February 10, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spencer.
OFFICIATING
Fr. William Schreiber
CASKET BEARERS
Dave Gunnerson
Terry Gunnerson
Wayne Brown
Ted Freekes
Honorary Bearers
David Edmonds
Maja Edmonds
Matthew Doherty
Kyle Doherty
Meredith Lemon
Coty Lemon
Laura Edmonds
VISITATION
Visitation with the family will be from 5:00 - 7:00P.M., Monday evening at the funeral home in Spencer.
MUSIC
Organist-Marianne Fuchsen
Cantor - Joe Leclair
INTERMENT
Oakland Cemetery
Peterson, Iowa