John James "Jack" Dougherty

John James 'Jack' Dougherty

Decatur

John James "Jack" Dougherty was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on August 16th, 1941, and peacefully passed away on April 24, 2014. He was the oldest of four children and the only son of Brigadier General John E. Dougherty and Marguerite Burke Dougherty. As the son of a military father, their family moved a great deal with Jack attending numerous schools until he graduated from high school in Savannah, Ga. Jack attended the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado from which he graduated with a degree in Engineering. He later earned a Juris Doctorate degree. Following graduation, Jack attended flight training in Pensacola, Fla. where he met his wife, Jeanette Giles Dougherty of Decatur, Ala. Jack served his country as a fighter pilot in the Vietnam War and was the recipient of numerous awards for his service to his country, including earning a Silver Star, a Presidential Unit Citation and a Vietnam Service Medal with three stars along with numerous marksman awards. Jack spent his career as an airline pilot for Delta Airlines and held numerous leadership positions with Delta, primarily in pilot support programs. Jack and Jeanette are survived by their three daughters, Jan Faragalli of Ringgold, Ga., Karen Remias of Breckenridge, Colo., and Katherine Grace of Decatur, Ga. and their families including eight grandchildren; as well as his sisters Sharon Cleary of Denver, Colo. and Ellen Patterson of Wellington, Ohio.

He is preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Kathryn Galbreath. While in the Atlanta area, Jack served as a volunteer fireman for many years, was active in Roswell United Methodist Church and was a constant presence in the stands at school sporting events. He and Jeanette moved to her home of Decatur, Ala. over twenty years ago. Jack loved Decatur and became involved in a wide range of organizations and activities here including the Decatur First United Methodist communities, the Rotary Club, the Decatur Country Club where he served on the Board of Directors, the North Alabama Emmaus Community and in his work to help revitalize downtown Decatur for many years. Jack will be remembered as a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend. He will be greatly missed by all who were fortunate enough to know him.

Services will be held on Sunday, April 27, 2014, at the First Decatur United Methodist Church in Decatur, Ala. with family receiving guests at 1:30 p.m. and the service beginning at 2 p.m.

This obituary was originally published in the Decatur Daily.