Marsha Lyn Dougherty

Marsha Lyn Dougherty, 63, wife, mother, and a friend to all who knew her, stopped professionally making people laugh on March 1st, 2018. She passed away peacefully at Jefferson Hospital, after a heroic four-year battle with cancer, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born in Dallas, Texas on November 28th, 1954 to the late Ralph Maynard and Jana Willding (Swetnam.) On September 3rd 1983 she married Kevin Dougherty of Bensalem, and he charmed (tricked) her into moving to Philadelphia with him, and raising their family “up north.”
She enjoyed the simple things in life; a good book, a good meal, and a good laugh. She dedicated her life to helping and educating children, and was a faithful employee of the School District of Philadelphia for 23 years. She also served on the Church Council at Saint David’s Evangelical Lutheran church for 5 years. Her favorite pastimes over the years included never missing one of her three daughter's plays, dance competitions, softball games, or swim meets. She was kind to animals, and to strangers, and never missed an opportunity to strike up a conversation with anyone about anything.

Marsha is preceded in death by her loving parents Ralph Maynard, and Jack and Jana Willding, and her beloved sister Melody Flack (Maynard.)
She is survived by her husband Kevin, their three daughters Melody (Kevin Connell,) Jenna, and Jessica, his daughter Jamie Hernandez (John) and step-grandchildren John Jr. and Brandon, two sisters, Renee McNiff, and Michele Hawkins (Wayne) , two brothers, Monty Maynard and John A. Willding, her best friend Diane Clingan (Terry,) and many, many, loving in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

A celebration of her remarkable life will take place at Saint David’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, on Saturday, March 10th at 11am. Those attending are asked to dress in their finest denim (cowboy boots, optional.) A private reception for close family and friends will follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Jefferson Cancer Center, or to Ethan Allen Student Activities Fund.
In honor of Marsha’s memory, her family requests that you tell the funniest, sassiest, silliest, or raunchiest joke that you know to a friend today. She would have wanted that.