Catherine "Katy" Dougherty

Catherine (Katy) Louise Dougherty, after a long and full life, died surrounded by family and the caring staff of the Jeanne Jugan Center on June 8th. Katy was born on October 14, 1919 in her home 4921 Walrond to Catherine (Corrigan) and Leslie Hix. She was the first baby baptized in the newly constituted St. Louis Parish. Katy attended St. Louis Grade School and Redemptorist High School, graduating as the 1937 senior class president. Katy continued her studies at St. Teresa College, (junior college) predecessor of Avila University. She graduated with an Associate Degree in Arts in 1939. The Sarachon-Hooley business school finished off her formal education and gave her the practical skills needed for administrative work at Rockhurst College, Sinsheimer and Co., and the Kansas City Pump Company run by her father. After a courtship of several years she married John (Jack) A. Dougherty, Jr. on June 1, 1944 in Aiken, South Carolina. They had only a few months together before Jack’s military service overseas separated them. She lost her first child as Jack shipped out. Reunited in 1946 they proceeded to raise a family of seven children. She maintained an increasingly active Community life as her children grew. She was a charter member of the Catholic Interracial council. In 1962, with her children in school, she returned to full-time work outside her home. Katy began her career at Avila College in 1964. Her dedicated service was recognized in 1976 when she was awarded Avila Medal of Honor.

As Jack’s health failed, she faithfully kept their relationship alive for eight difficult years until he died in September 1979 after 35 years of marriage. Upon retirement, travel with her sisters and brother took her all over the continent. Katy took her role as grandmother very seriously. She played an important role in the lives of her American and Canadian grandchildren. Katy found time for volunteer work at her brother’s parishes, particularly, St. Aloysius. Later, at the Jeanne Jugan Center, she would continue her volunteer service, becoming a member of the Association Jeanne Jugan. In her last years, her grandchildren’s adventures and accomplishments, as well as those of her great grandchildren, were the light of her life. A devout Catholic, Katy was preceded in death by her brother, Father John Hix. She sadly leaves behind her sisters, Margaret Miller, Sister Patricia Marie Hix, CSJ and Patricia (Jack ) Moore; a life long friend, Betty O’Brien, sister-in-law Frances Murphy, her daughters, Patricia Wozniak, Catherine “Casey” (Kevin) Ashe and Mary DiStasi, her sons, John (Deborah) Michael (Eva), Charles Timothy (Patricia) and Kevin as well as her grandchildren Shana, Paul, Ryan, Jason, Kara, Ilona, Megan, Liam, Kristin, Shannon, Michael, (Catherine) Katy, Mazie, Jak, Max and Brianna and her great grandchildren Lisha, Dana, Amber, Caelan, Drake, Darion and an expected great-great grandchild, her many nieces and nephews in an expanding, joyous clan and her many friends at the Jeanne Jugan Center.

Katy’s Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 am Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at Little Sisters of the Poor Chapel, 8745 James A. Reed Road. Visitation will be from 9:00 -10:30 am with rosary preceding the mass on Wednesday at the Little Sisters Chapel. Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Lansing, KS. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Jeanne Jugan Center.