Harold Gene Daugherty

On Sunday, August 24, 2025, after a brief illness, Harold Gene Daugherty’s faith became sight as he stepped into heaven and met his Savior, Jesus Christ, face-to-face. There he was joyfully reunited with his beloved wife, Margaret Carolyn, who had gone home to be with the Lord earlier this year on January 6.

Harold was born in Edmond, Oklahoma, on December 10, 1943, the second child and first-born son of A.V. and Lucille Daugherty. In 1952, when Harold was nine, the family moved to Shawnee, where he grew up and later graduated from Shawnee High School in 1963.

While attending Oklahoma Avenue Baptist Church, Harold met the love of his life, Margaret Carolyn Pearson, a student at Oklahoma Baptist University from Memphis, Tennessee. Their romance quickly blossomed, and on April 3, 1971, they were married in the same church where they first met. Harold and Carolyn shared nearly 54 wonderful years together, building a life of faith, love, and service until Carolyn’s passing earlier this year.

Family was central to Harold’s life. He and Carolyn fostered two young men who became their sons: James “Jamie” Daugherty, who was adopted into the family, and Carl Williams, who, though never formally adopted, was embraced as their own. In later years, Carl faithfully cared for Harold and Carolyn, especially after Carolyn’s passing. The family is deeply grateful for Carl’s love and devotion.

Hardworking and dependable, Harold held a variety of jobs over the years — from welding at A-1 Bit & Tool to delivering produce for Shawnee Fruit & Produce, to working with Sooner Fence Company. For many years, he worked for Buford White Lumber Company, both at the Discount Center downtown and at the Independence Street location. Harold loved his work and his customers, and he never met a stranger. He had a story for everyone and was well known for his humor and kindness on his delivery routes.

Harold and Carolyn joined Hilltop Baptist Church in 1982, where they poured their lives into ministry. Harold faithfully taught 4th–6th grade Sunday School for many years, shaping young lives with the gospel, life lessons, and plenty of encouragement. Countless people have shared how Harold influenced their lives, their walk with Christ, or taught them to hunt or fish. He leaves a legacy of influence in others’ lives. He was equally devoted to his nieces and nephews, who often experienced his love, guidance, and sense of fun.

Harold served faithfully on church committees, hosted neighborhood block parties with Carolyn on the street where they lived and became known as “the bubblegum man” — always ready with bubblegum in his pocket to hand out to kids and adults alike. He loved challenging children to memorize Scripture, generously rewarding them when they succeeded. Beyond his church, he was actively involved in the local Shawnee Gideon’s Camp and loved helping with the Bible distributions at OBU and Gordon Cooper Vo-Tech.

Music and fellowship were also dear to Harold. He loved the Friday gospel singings at the Shawnee Senior Center, often attending with his sister Mary, her husband Bill, his brother Bruce, and his father A.V. Sometimes Harold even helped lead the singing.

In his retirement years, Harold discovered a love for woodturning, crafting beautiful bowls that quickly became treasures among family and friends. True to his generous spirit, he delighted in giving them away. At the family Christmas “dirty Santa” game, one of Harold’s bowls was always a coveted prize — and whoever unwrapped it had to fight to keep it from being “stolen” by another eager family member.

Outdoors, Harold’s joy came alive. He loved hunting and fishing and was always ready to take family and friends along — with plenty of laughter, mishaps, and muddy adventures with his sisters. One of his greatest legacies was the annual kids’ fishing tournaments he hosted at May’s Pond for at least 36 years. Many children caught their very first fish under Harold’s guidance. To make sure no child left empty-handed, Harold collected and repurposed old trophies so every participant left with a prize. Often, the trophies were bigger than the kids themselves, and if extras remained, Harold would tell them to “take one for grandma.” These tournaments left lasting memories and reflected his generous heart.

Harold is survived by his sons, Carl Williams and James Daugherty, both of Shawnee; his sisters Carolyn (Fred) Jones of Midwest City, OK, Mary (Bill) Weeks of Narrows, VA, Shirley (Alan) Alspaugh of Melbourne, FL, Linda (David) Wallace of Kemp, TX, and Kathy (Walter) Mullican of Bethany, OK; along with many beloved nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Carolyn; his brother, Bruce Daugherty; and his parents, A.V. and Lucille Daugherty.

A service celebrating Harold’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 13, at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1451 E 45th St, Shawnee, OK. The service will be livestreamed and may be viewed at www.ibcshawnee.org/live

In lieu of flowers, the family requests Bibles be donated through Gideons International (www.gideons.org). Other memorial gifts may be directed to Hilltop Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1803, Shawnee, OK 74802-1803.

If you still have a fishing trophy from one of Harold’s tournaments, the family invites you to bring it for display at his celebration service — a fitting tribute to a man who delighted in giving and in helping others share in the joy of life.