Alta V. Daugherty (AV) was born on Jan. 29, 1916 near Haskell, Texas and grew up traveling with his family to different oil patches in Texas and Oklahoma. He would witness great events in his life: The Dust Bowl, the Great Depression, the Seminole Oil Boom, and World War II. He loved learning and would become the Valedictorian of the 1934 New Lima, Oklahoma High School graduating class, an Honors graduate at Oklahoma City Draughn’s Business College in 1935 and an Honor graduate at Shawnee’s Oklahoma Baptist University in 1939. Later he would receive a Master’s Degree in Education from Oklahoma A&M. While at OBU his Biology professor chose him to teach his Biology Lab. It was then that he found out just how much he loved to teach, and he would choose that as his profession in the early years.
Graduating from OBU he married Lucille (Lucy) Magruder, whom he referred to many times as “the Belle of Bowlegs, Oklahoma.” During his early married years he taught school at Bowlegs, Barnsdall, and Bixby, Oklahoma. He also taught aeronautical principles to glider cadets at Bryan, Texas and Edmond, OK during World War II.
His growing family caused him to reluctantly leave teaching to become a Preferred Risk Insurance agent in Shawnee from 1952 to 1982. During those years he was very active in Immanuel Baptist Church serving as their Deacon Chairman for several years and teaching Bible classes for over 50 years. He was also active in the Gideons International, a Christian Business and Professional Men’s Association, and served as their Oklahoma State President from 1986 through 1988.
Many people have stepped forward to tell how AV came to their rescue - sometimes in supplying money for their needs but often furnishing wisdom in dealing with their problems.
Perhaps the best testimony to his greatness and influence comes from within his family. Married to Lucille for over 60 years before her death, they raised seven happy and wholesome children who have copied their parents’ examples. They too have become servants and givers to all who touch their lives. They are Carolyn married to Fred Jones for 48 years, Harold married to Margaret Carolyn for 41 years, Mary married to Bill Weeks for 46 years, Shirley married to Alan Alspaugh for 36 years, Linda married to David Wallace for 43 years, and Kathy married to Walter Mullican for 36 years. Their son, Bruce, is a special needs person who never married but added much love to the household because AV and Lucy insisted on rearing him instead of placing him in an institution. AV had 21 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren with another great grandchild expected in the summer.
AV’s greatest prayer in these last few weeks was to be released from this sphere to be taken home to his Lord’s presence. That prayer was answered on January 31, 2013 at the age of 97 in his home surrounded by his loving family. The family will greatly miss him but are comforted that he is indeed in the presence of Christ.
Visitation and viewing with the family will be 5:00 – 8:00 pm on Friday, Feb. 1 at Resthaven Funeral Home 44909 Hwy 3, Shawnee, OK. In lieu of flowers the family requests AV be honored by contributing to Gideons International so that Bibles may be purchased and distributed around the world - proclaiming God’s Word of His love and hope for us. http://www.gideons.org/
Celebration of Life will be held at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1451 E. 45th Shawnee, OK – Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013 at 10:00 AM. Graveside services will be at Resthaven Cemetery 44909 Hwy 3, Shawnee, OK.
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