Herbert James Dougherty, 80 of Limestone, NY passed away peacefully, Thursday, February 23, 2017 at home with his family at his bedside.
Born on July 20, 1936 in Bradford he was a son of the late Glenn and Gladys (Dempsey) Dougherty Sr.
He graduated from Limestone High School in 1954. He held the men’s basketball high score for several years.
Mr. Dougherty enlisted in the United States Air Force on July 24, 1956 and received a good conduct medal before being honorably discharged on June 27, 1960. Most of his time in the service was spent in Okinawa Japan as a Communications Specialist.
On August 12, 1961 in Limestone, he married Kookie (Andress) of Limestone, who survives.
Herb spent most of his career in Bradford at Corning Glass Works, then Dale Electronics as a machinist and retired in 1997.
He spent his retirement years playing euchre and poker and watching whatever sport happened to be on TV. He especially enjoyed September when football and baseball seasons overlapped and was a long suffering Buffalo Bills fan. He also spent a lot of time spoiling his cats, first Puff then Precious, who survives.
He was a lifetime member of the Limestone Volunteer Fire Department and also served his community as an elected trustee of the Village of Limestone. For many years, Herbie and Kookie hosted friends and family in their garage bar and he was famous for his goulash.
In addition to his wife Kookie of 55 years, he is survived by a daughter Kathi of Knoxville, TN and a son Mat of Birmingham, AL; a grandson Kyle Matthias and his wife Brittany and two great grandchildren Dax and Madelyn, all of Knoxville, TN; his brother Harold “Chub” of Limestone and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his daughter Cindy Jo Matthias Dougherty who died February 19, 2005 and his siblings Robert and Glenn Dougherty Jr, and Maxine Ronald.
Friends are invited to attend a celebration of his life, Sunday February 26, 2017 at 3pm at the Limestone Community Center. Members of the American Legion Post #1560 will accord Military Honor’s at the Community Center at 3:30pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made in his memory to the Limestone Volunteer Fire Department or the Limestone American Legion Post#1560.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes, Inc.
Online condolences can be expressed at www.hollenbeckcahill.com