John Morris Dougherty

John Morris Dougherty was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Earle and Florence Dougherty on February 19th, 1929. He received the Lord Jesus as his personal savior September 15th, 1948. John earned his Bachelor’s degree from The King’s College in Mathematics. He went on to earn a degree from Moody Bible Institute in the Pastoral Studies and became an ordained minister in 1955. He earned his Doctorate of Theology degree from Burton School of Theology. He served the Lord as pastor at Milford Center Baptist Church in Milford Center, New York under AMOC (American Mission for Opening Closed Churches) and later became its Director of Deputation in Buffalo, New York. After leaving the mission, he served as Pastor at Calvary Independent Church in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Hedstrom Memorial Baptist Church in Buffalo, New York, and West Oneonta Baptist Church in West Oneonta, New York. Although he retired in 2001, he continued his passion of serving the Lord whom he loved and honored, in the Oneonta community by teaching and preaching in a number of churches in the area. He led several Holy Land tours during his ministry. He was also a soccer and basketball referee for a many years in the Buffalo and Oneonta areas, and he received the 2004 NYSCOS Distinguished Service Award. He was an avid sports fan his entire life.

John met Edith Suderman while singing with the Moody Chorale. They were engaged February 5th, 1954 and married on June 26th, 1955. With the birth of their daughter, Cheryl Joy, they became parents in 1956. David John was born in 1959, Stephen Paul in 1962, and Karen Joyce in 1973, completing their family.

John is survived by his wife of 62 years, Edith, their daughters Karen, Cheryl and her husband Michael Sperring, their daughter-in-law Karen Foreman, their son Stephen and his wife Lisabeth, their grandchildren Nathan, Jonathan, Stephanie, David, Daniel, Jessica, Melissa, Rachael, Samantha, Anastasia, Michael, Scotty, and their great-grandchildren Nathan, Anastasia, Scarlett, Jonah, Abigail, Caleb, Emmeline, Mason, Kaia, and Jordan, their niece Susan Hama, and their nephew Paul Higley. Added to that are the many wonderful friends he has been blessed with throughout his life.

He is predeceased by his son David, his parents, and his sister and brother-in-law Daniel and Marge Higley. A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 30th at 3pm at the West Oneonta Baptist Church in West Oneonta, New York. A private burial will be held at the Milford Center Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations are made to either the West Oneonta Baptist Church or Leadership Vistas which trains pastors in Africa, a cause which was dear to John’s heart (leadershipvistas.org).

To light a candle or send an online condolence please visit www.bookhoutfuneralhome.com

Funeral arrangements are by the Bookhout Funeral Home of Oneonta.