George H. Dougherty

Former Lyon Township trustee, George H. Dougherty, a resident of Higgins Lake, Michigan, peacefully passed away in his sleep on December 9, 2020 at the age of 83.

George, who is survived by his beloved wife, Martha Sue “Susie” [Crego] Dougherty, served Lyon Township as a trustee and as chairman of the Lyon Township Planning Commission. He also organized the Higgins Lake Cleanup Committee.

Raised in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, George graduated from LaFayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, with degrees in chemical engineering and mathematics. He also held a Master of Business Administration from St. Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri.

George was a recognized leader in the building products industry. He retired with Susie to Higgins Lake after serving as chief executive officer (CEO) of Devon Tape Corporation in North Bergen, New Jersey and as CEO-owner of Wat Pro Corporation in the Philadelphia area. Prior to that, he was general manager of the St. Louis area based Carboline Corporation.  He began his career at Union Carbide Corporation and Anheuser-Busch.

George was an avid sailor and a passionate supporter of the arts. In the 1970s, he co-hosted an opera radio program in St. Louis. He was also a talented watercolorist whose paintings and hand-painted Christmas cards are cherished by many. Additionally, George loved singing in choirs with his amazing bass voice.

And, with his quick wit and stopwatch-sharp sense of timing, he was a gifted and animated storyteller.

George is also survived by the children, their spouses and grandchildren (respectively) he and Susie share: Allison Dougherty of Lower Allen Twp., Pennsylvania and her son R. Francis Garvey; George E. Dougherty, his wife Anne Dougherty and their son George M. Dougherty of Culver City, California; Paul Janeway of  Yosemite National Park, California and his children Quintin Janeway, Kiara Janeway, Anastasia Janeway and Titus Janeway; Kay Levesque, her husband Dean Levesque, of Durango, Colorado, their shared daughter Draza Miloshevich and her husband Craig Luplow; Molly H. Dougherty, her husband James D. Kreider and their son Samuel Dougherty Kreider of Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.

In lieu of gifts, please send donations to Mt. Hope Lutheran Church, 905 N I-75 Business Loop, Grayling, Michigan, 49738, or the charity of your choice.

Arrangements by Sorenson-Lockwood Funeral Home.