Benjamin Laurence Doherty

BENJAMIN LAURENCE DOHERTY

Aug. 29, 1950 - Oct. 24, 2006

Memorial service for Ben Doherty was held at the Branson School gymnasium in Branson Colorado on October 28 at 2pm.
Benjamin Laurence Doherty was born on August 29, 1950 to Mr. & Mrs. John F. "Tanky" Doherty of Trinchera, Colorado. Ben grew up on the family ranch and attended Branson School from kindergarten through graduation.
Ben was an accomplished high school athlete. In 1967, Ben made the game-winning lay-up in the state championship basketball game and he pitched the win in the state championship baseball game.
Ben met the love of his life, Willetta Jeannette (Schwabe) Doherty at a 4-H conference on the night of the first Super Bowl. Ben and Willetta got married on June 25, 1971.
Ben graduated from Colorado State University, where he joined Farmhouse Fraternity and graduated with a Masters Degree in Agribusiness and Computers. Ben's professional career took him and Willetta to Amarillo, TX, where his son Bradley was born. The family then moved to Houston, TX, then to El Centro, CA., where his daughters Kendra and Erin were born, then to Quemado, TX. Ben coached soccer, baseball, and softball teams for his three kids. While in El Centro, Ben and Willetta were very involved at First Christian Church, where they led young adult Bible studies and pioneered SHARE, a program to provide low-cost food to low-income families. Ben worked many years running feedlots in Imperial Valley County, California and Maverick County, Texas.
In 1992, Ben and his family moved back to the family ranch in Trinchera, Colorado. Ben served as a local 4-H leader and on the Las Animas County Fair Board as president. One of his loves was raising quality show steers and showing them at many state and national shows. Ben impacted the lives of many youths, having the opportunity of selling show steers to 4-H'ers across 6 different states. Ben was the president of the Branson School Board at the time of his passing, wanting to see Branson grow he was a driving force in the formation and success of Branson School Online. Ben frequently took his message and his passion for Branson and its school district to the Colorado State Capital lobbying with senators and representatives alike.
In November of 2004, Ben had a heart valve replaced with an artificial valve. That valve became infected and had to be replaced with a human valve and aorta root in July of 2006. Another infection caused a small tear in that aorta root, and that tear was repaired in September 2006. Ben's new aorta root developed a new tear due to infection and on October 16th Ben was taken to Colorado University Hospital in Denver. On Tuesday, October 24 at 8:15 PM, while watching game 3 of the World Series, the tear in Ben's aorta root ruptured instantly and Ben was called to heaven to live with Jesus.
Ben is survived by his wife, Willetta Doherty, children Brad Doherty, Kendra Doherty, and Erin Doherty, grandsons Brody and Brock Doherty, his parents and five siblings.
In lieu of flowers, the Ben Doherty Memorial Fund has been established at First National Bank in Trinidad, Colorado. The family currently resides at Box 177, Trinchera, CO 81081.