1 Upcoming Event
Memorial Service
FEB
06
Friday, February 6, 2026
Starts at 1:00 pm
United Methodist Church of West Chester
129 South High Street, West Chester, PA 19382
Elva Cordelia “Corkey” Doherty (née Calhoun), age 85, passed away peacefully on January 8, 2026, in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Born on May 7, 1940, in El Paso, Texas, Corkey lived a working-class life filled with faith, compassionate service, struggle and courage.
She spent part of her childhood living in a desert tent while her father worked on the transcontinental railroad. Corkey’s adolescent journey took her from high school to marriage and motherhood, becoming a stay-at-home mother of four children.
In 1961, she and her husband Roger moved from Fort Worth, Texas, to Franklin, Pennsylvania, where they settled down to raise their family. In the ensuing years, her sense of civic duty and support for her children led her to run for local office, serve as scout troop leader, and become an active and avid sports Mom. Many on the Franklin YMCA Swim Team remember how Elva made the bus trips fun.
As her children progressed through school, Elva completed a GED in 1972 and was awarded a diploma from R.L. Paschal High School in Fort Worth, Texas. After moving to West Chester, Pennsylvania, in 1980, Elva earned a degree in nursing in 1987 from the Brandywine School of Nursing in Coatesville, Pennsylvania.
Her dedication to helping others led her to a fulfilling career in nursing. From 1989 to 1997, she worked in the maternity unit at Bryn Mawr Hospital. She took great pride in making every new mother and baby feel safe, loved and special. After years of tending to patients, Elva transitioned into roles that combined her clinical expertise with her analytical skills. She held various data analyst and clinical documentation positions at IBAH, AstraZeneca and Chester County Hospital. Elva moved to Downingtown, Pennsylvania, in 2000, and she retired in 2015 after a long and impactful career.
In 2015, Elva was joined in Downingtown by her daughter Mary Anne, who became her primary caregiver and constant companion. She was deeply grateful for Mary Anne's loving presence, as are all of Elva's family and friends.
A devout Christian with unwavering faith, Elva found strength through prayer and scripture. She incorporated prayer into her daily routine by stopping during walks to pray for every person pictured on the walls of her home. Her spiritual life was deeply personal yet openly shared with those around her through Bible study groups, singing in the church choir and daily acts of kindness.
Experiences throughout her lifetime led Elva to become a dedicated advocate for women and children, particularly victims of poverty and violence. Her values were manifested through her work operating a senior citizen center, supporting work with victims of domestic violence and teaching ESL to immigrants. Her dedication to service inspired her children to follow in her footsteps.
Elva found joy in gardening, singing in the Franklin Choraliers and participating in community theater—most memorably appearing as a nun in "The Sound of Music". She was known to spontaneously burst into song - gospel hymns, silly children’s songs and 50’s hits were all in her repertoire. Her mischievous sense of humor, and strong, quiet independence carried throughout her life. Whether she was playing a competitive game of Mexican Train dominos with her family or starting a watermelon seed fight, she was known as “the most fun Mom” in the neighborhood.
Elva is lovingly remembered by her sister Martha Saxton (Mike); children Laura Randolph (Susan - deceased), Mary Anne Doherty, Dawn Billings, and L. Roger "Duffy" Doherty (Jeanne); grandchildren Patrick Murphy (Hannah), Alastair Murphy (Karis Cooper), Max Murphy, Hadiya Randolph, and Domenique Randolph; and great-granddaughters Kara Murphy and Madison Pierce-Sayles.
She was preceded in death by her parents Dorothy and Wallace Calhoun; siblings Jim Herring and Jane Owens; and former husband Roger B. Doherty.
A memorial service will be held on February 6, 2026, at 1:00 PM at the United Methodist Church of West Chester, located at 129 South High Street in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Watch the memorial service via live stream at https://www.umcwc.org/live . Tune in later to watch the archive at https://www.youtube.com/@umcwc/playlists under "2026 UMCWC Worship" and "View full playlist". A private interment will be arranged by the family at a later date in El Paso, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting Elva's lifelong commitment to literacy by donating to the Downingtown Library at https://downingtownlibrary.org.
Elva Doherty will be remembered for the warmth of her heart, the strength of her spirit, and the joy she brought into the lives of others. May her memory bring comfort to all who knew and loved her.
She spent part of her childhood living in a desert tent while her father worked on the transcontinental railroad. Corkey’s adolescent journey took her from high school to marriage and motherhood, becoming a stay-at-home mother of four children.
In 1961, she and her husband Roger moved from Fort Worth, Texas, to Franklin, Pennsylvania, where they settled down to raise their family. In the ensuing years, her sense of civic duty and support for her children led her to run for local office, serve as scout troop leader, and become an active and avid sports Mom. Many on the Franklin YMCA Swim Team remember how Elva made the bus trips fun.
As her children progressed through school, Elva completed a GED in 1972 and was awarded a diploma from R.L. Paschal High School in Fort Worth, Texas. After moving to West Chester, Pennsylvania, in 1980, Elva earned a degree in nursing in 1987 from the Brandywine School of Nursing in Coatesville, Pennsylvania.
Her dedication to helping others led her to a fulfilling career in nursing. From 1989 to 1997, she worked in the maternity unit at Bryn Mawr Hospital. She took great pride in making every new mother and baby feel safe, loved and special. After years of tending to patients, Elva transitioned into roles that combined her clinical expertise with her analytical skills. She held various data analyst and clinical documentation positions at IBAH, AstraZeneca and Chester County Hospital. Elva moved to Downingtown, Pennsylvania, in 2000, and she retired in 2015 after a long and impactful career.
In 2015, Elva was joined in Downingtown by her daughter Mary Anne, who became her primary caregiver and constant companion. She was deeply grateful for Mary Anne's loving presence, as are all of Elva's family and friends.
A devout Christian with unwavering faith, Elva found strength through prayer and scripture. She incorporated prayer into her daily routine by stopping during walks to pray for every person pictured on the walls of her home. Her spiritual life was deeply personal yet openly shared with those around her through Bible study groups, singing in the church choir and daily acts of kindness.
Experiences throughout her lifetime led Elva to become a dedicated advocate for women and children, particularly victims of poverty and violence. Her values were manifested through her work operating a senior citizen center, supporting work with victims of domestic violence and teaching ESL to immigrants. Her dedication to service inspired her children to follow in her footsteps.
Elva found joy in gardening, singing in the Franklin Choraliers and participating in community theater—most memorably appearing as a nun in "The Sound of Music". She was known to spontaneously burst into song - gospel hymns, silly children’s songs and 50’s hits were all in her repertoire. Her mischievous sense of humor, and strong, quiet independence carried throughout her life. Whether she was playing a competitive game of Mexican Train dominos with her family or starting a watermelon seed fight, she was known as “the most fun Mom” in the neighborhood.
Elva is lovingly remembered by her sister Martha Saxton (Mike); children Laura Randolph (Susan - deceased), Mary Anne Doherty, Dawn Billings, and L. Roger "Duffy" Doherty (Jeanne); grandchildren Patrick Murphy (Hannah), Alastair Murphy (Karis Cooper), Max Murphy, Hadiya Randolph, and Domenique Randolph; and great-granddaughters Kara Murphy and Madison Pierce-Sayles.
She was preceded in death by her parents Dorothy and Wallace Calhoun; siblings Jim Herring and Jane Owens; and former husband Roger B. Doherty.
A memorial service will be held on February 6, 2026, at 1:00 PM at the United Methodist Church of West Chester, located at 129 South High Street in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Watch the memorial service via live stream at https://www.umcwc.org/live . Tune in later to watch the archive at https://www.youtube.com/@umcwc/playlists under "2026 UMCWC Worship" and "View full playlist". A private interment will be arranged by the family at a later date in El Paso, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting Elva's lifelong commitment to literacy by donating to the Downingtown Library at https://downingtownlibrary.org.
Elva Doherty will be remembered for the warmth of her heart, the strength of her spirit, and the joy she brought into the lives of others. May her memory bring comfort to all who knew and loved her.
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