Edith T Dougherty

Edith Meaks Dougherty died peacefully with her daughters by her side at Community Hospice – Bailey Center for Caring, St. Augustine, FL, on March 16, 2024. Born in Shanghai, China, on July 14, 1930, she was the daughter of William B. and Alice Y. Meaks. Her father, a retired Navy man, owned a nightclub in the French Concession area of Shanghai. Following the Japanese invasion of Shanghai in 1937, Edie’s formative years were spent under siege. Taken prisoner by the Japanese and tortured, her father was released from the POW camp after the Japanese surrender in 1945; he spent the remainder of his life hospitalized due to his severe injuries. Edie was a “tough Tony” and starting in 1945 frequently rode her bike to the U. S. Consulate to wait in line for the documentation and permissions needed to enable her sister Evelyn and her, both U.S. citizens, to immigrate to America. In September 1949, Edie and Evelyn were on one of the last boats out of Shanghai following the Communist takeover. They would never see their mother again.

Their guardian arranged for them to be educated at Marywood in Scranton, PA and at St. Francis Hospital in Jersey City, NJ. Edie quickly learned English and earned her Licensed Practical Nurse credentials. Following graduation she began her nursing career as a scrub nurse in the OR at St. Francis Hospital. Edie’s nursing school classmate Claire introduced her brother Francis to Edie, and Edie and Francis were married on December 24, 1956. They raised their three children in Jersey City before moving to Branchville, NJ in 1972. Edie continued her nursing career but was eventually lured away to cook soups and daily specials at the Five Star Diner in Branchville. She developed a large following who visited the diner for her soups.

Cooking was also a hobby for Edie. She was known for her egg rolls (they were not skimpy like those her sister made) and taught her daughter Kathy and grandson Joshua to carry on that family tradition. Edie also enjoyed painting and drawing. Not one to turn down an outing, she appreciated shopping, dining, shows, cruises, and even trips to the dump.

Once retired, Edie and Fran moved to Colony Cove in New Port Richey, FL, first as “snowbirds” and later as full-time residents. In 2011, they moved to St. Augustine to be closer to family. From 2015 until last summer when she moved to Symphony at St. Augustine, Edie lived with her daughter Kathy and son-in-law Ron.

Edie is survived by son Francis Dougherty and wife May Samplonius of Palm Coast, FL; daughter Dorothy Dougherty and wife Elizabeth Way of Manassas, VA; daughter Kathy Barry, BSN RN, and husband Ron of St. Augustine, FL; grandson Joshua Ropp and wife Amy Franke and their sons Elliot and Oliver of Centennial, CO; granddaughter Dr. Sarah Dougherty and husband Kevin Dourand and their sons Owen and Leo of McMurray, PA; grandson Taylor Dougherty, BSN RN, of Brooklyn, NY; granddaughter Dr. Nicole Brzozowski and husband Adam Knight of Newtown, CT; grandson Michael Barry of St. Augustine, FL; sister-in-law Charlotte Dougherty of Lecanto, FL; and brother- and sister-in-law Bruce and Eileen Downey of Long Island, NY. Edie was predeceased by her husband of 60 years, Francis A. Dougherty; parents, William B. and Alice Y. Meaks; sister Evelyn Komesu; and grandson Matthew Brzozowski.

The family is grateful for the skilled, patient, and loving care Edie’s “adopted daughter” Toni Nelson provided to Edie during the past several years.

A celebration of life will be held for Edith on Saturday, July 27, 2024 at 11:00 am at Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Legacy Lodge. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to community hospice Bailey Center in ST. Augustine in memory of Edith.