Obituary of Harry DOUGHERTY

Harry Dougherty, 81, passed away at his home, Saturday evening, August 31, 2002. Harry was born in Ottawa, Kansas, April 3, 1921 to Ruth and Earl Dougherty.Harry had been a permanent resident of Lake Havasu for 18 years, moving here from Canoga Park, Calif. where he had resided for 30 years.Harry served in the US Navy from 1939 through 1945. Shortly after Pearl Harbor, he married his wife Vivian. Of this union, they had one son, Patrick Michael Dougherty.He was on the battleship U.S.S. Tennessee in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and battleship row. His ship took two direct hits but remained afloat. However, they were penned into the harbor for 2 weeks by the wrecked ships around it before being moved out to the States for repair.He remained on the Tennessee for the remainder of the war, except two times he attended advanced Navy schools in Washington DC. The Tennessee participated in virtually every landing in the Pacific Theater. His ship took 3 hits off Saipan and later at Okinawa a suicide attack bomber landed on the deck where he had been standing only seconds before. Harry left the Navy November 1945 with the rank of "Chief Petty Officer".Harry's government service spanned 36 years including his 6 years in the Navy. He started his civilian government career for the Dept. of Defense at the Pueblo Army Ordinance Depot in Pueblo, Colo., later transferring to the Dept. of Air Force in Pasadena, Calif. In 1965, he transferred to Van Nuys, Calif. to DCAS the Defense Contract Administration Services as a Quality Assurance Specialist. All of his service was in the Guided Missile and Space Programs.Harry was a member of the Masonic Lodge-Silver State AM/FM #95, Pueblo, Colo., life member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Assn. and a charter member of the Colorado River Chapter #4, Lake Havasu, life member of National Association of Retired Federal Employees, and life member of the American Legion.Harry is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Vivian of Lake Havasu; son Patrick Dougherty of Farmington, New Mexico; half-sister Maxine Haug of Council Grove, Kansas; 3 granddaughters, Katy Brown of Deltona, Florida, Kelle West and Michele Dowty of Salem, Oregon; five great grandchildren, Warren Brown of Deltona, Florida, Ericka, Mercedes, Seth and Thomas of Salem, Oregon.Donations may be made to the American Heart Association.A memorial service will be held at a later date.Arrangements were made by Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home.