Mary Catherine (Brown) Doherty was born March 1, 1934, to John and Johnnie Lee (Hegwood) Brown in Tennyson, TX and died peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family in Sherman, TX.
She grew up in the Robert E Lee and Bronte, TX areas. The family also lived in New Mexico and then to NW Kansas in 1953. Mary graduated from Bronte HS in 1951, and then attended Fort Hays College.
She married Harry "Wayne" Doherty in Clayton on Nov 11, 1956, and they had 4 daughters. They lived in the Delvale and Clayton communities.
Mary grew up in times when work ethics were of great value. She was always a hard worker. As a child growing up in West Texas, she shared stories of picking cotton until her hands were bloodied. As a young woman, Mary always planted large gardens and canned her produce that lasted all year. Her girls complained, but always helped get the canning done.
For many years, Wayne and Mary had a custom harvest crew. They took the girls and traveled from Texas to North Dakota every year. In the fall, they stayed close to home and harvested milo, corn and oats.
Wayne and Mary always had livestock, whether it was milking cows or a farrow to finish operation raising hogs. They had a farm near Jennings and had irrigated alfalfa and milo. It was a family affair moving irrigation pipe by hand with a bunch of whiney girls!!
Mary and Wayne were devoted active members of the Clayton UM Church. They spent years of dedicated service supporting their girls in the Prairie Dog 4-H club.
For many years they operated Doherty Repair, where Wayne worked on every type of vehicle and Mary was the bookkeeper. They later bought and operated Clayton Lumber & Hardware for many years.
Wayne passed away on May 6, 1980, and later Mary moved to Sherman, TX in 1985.
Mary worked as a housekeeper and sold Watkins for many years. She made new Christian friendships that lead to years of fellowship and happiness. Mary attended Christian Classes and received her Pastoral Degree, which she was proud of. Mary loved the Lord and devoted her lifetime to serving our Savior. She was a self-taught piano player, and loved to play her favorite hymns.
She was predeceased by her husband, Wayne, her parents, siblings, William Brown, Wanda Holden, Lloyd Brown, and Lena Laughin, numerous brother and sisters in laws, nieces and nephews.
She is survived by her girls: Charlotte Doherty, Scott City, KS, Annette (and Vic) Goeken, Carthage, MO, Yuvonne (and Lee) Kraft, Ransom, KS, Carla Dansby, Sherman, TX; Grandkids: Mindy (and Ryan) Schumacher, Scranton, ND, Ryan (and Valarie) Kraft, Lyons, KS, Kelly ( and Sara) Goeken, Carthage, MO, Codi Kraft ( and fiance, Brian Jantz), Wichita, KS, Kambria Dansby, Sherman, TX, Miles(Doherty) Dawson, Wichita, KS, Brandon Dansby, Sherman, TX, and Emily (and Boaz ) Beard, Newton, KS; Great grandsons: Quentin and Chason Schumacher, Anthony Goeken, and Bodhi Kraft.
Private services to be held in the Clayton Cemetery, Clayton, KS.