Edith was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on September 30th, 1925, a city that would imbue her with a spirit of adventure and passion for the arts and her community. One of Edith’s earliest influences came from her father, Louis, a man who studied music throughout his life and served as the music director for Coliseum Place Baptist Church during Edith’s childhood. Louis would take Edith, along with the rest of the family, on his trips to other churches, where she would watch her father play the marimba as part of the various choirs.
Taking those inspirations from her father, Edith sang alto and played the trombone during her high school years at F.T. Nicholls High School and continuing through her graduation from Louisiana College in 1946 with a B.A. in English and Spanish. Graduation was not the only significant milestone for Edith that year, for it was the same year she met her late husband of 63 years Findly Miles “Fin” Doughty at the same Coliseum Place Baptist Church from her childhood. Edith’s mother Sarah invited Fin to lunch after a Sunday service and late the next year the two would be married on November 28, 1947.
Fin’s work kept the couple moving across country and continent. Throughout her life, she lived in Baton Rouge, Lousiana; Short Hills, New Jersey; Coral Gables, Florida; and her absolute favorite Montevideo, Uruguay before finally settling in Houston, Texas. Travel suited Edith well and she spent her time exploring the cities in which they lived in addition to the many recreational vacations they took abroad.
From her early years, Edith was always a caretaker. Her brother Charles can fondly recount the hours spent playing seesaw, dominoes, and croquet or on the blistering summer days waiting on street corners for the iceman, banana man, or, best of all, the ice cream man! Most importantly Charles remembers with wonder the patience Edith had in teaching him the valuable childhood skills of roller skating and how to ride a bicycle to name a few.
That compassion for others never once left Edith. As she grew into a wife and then mother of three, her focus was to be a good wife, mother, and, as always, sister. Not only did she have love for family, but for nature as well. No matter in which city she resided Edith prided her gardens and house plants, her favorites being roses for the outdoors and African violets to brighten the interior. As she aged and her children left, Edith never stopped giving. There was not a day of retirement she did not go out of her way to help others in need. She spent her time volunteering for the American Cancer Society providing rides to patients who needed it most, being the helping hand when no one else could.
Throughout her life, she acquired a collection of swan figurines. Most were gifts from those who knew her and what a swan represents: elegance, grace, and fierce loyalty.
Edith is survived by her brother CharlesTurner (Sue); two sons, Douglas Doughty (Cindy) and Kent Doughty; her daughter Sherri Garrett (Mark); and four grandchildren: Erin Garrett (Daniel), Jennifer Chesnakas (Timothy), Christina Poole (Brian), and Miles Garrett, along with one great-grandchild who is on the way.
Edith’s inurnment will be at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home 13001 Katy Fwy Houston, TX 77079 after a brief family gathering. Per Edith's wishes, no formal memorial service is planned.
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