Mrs. Muriel Wilson Dougherty

April 29, 1944 - November 3, 2020

Muriel “Del” Wilson Dougherty of Gainesville, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020 at her family home in Lawtey. Del was born April 29th, 1944 in Jacksonville to William and Muriel (Boyette) Wilson. She was a 1962 graduate of Madrid High School in Torrejon, Spain. She married James F. Dougherty, Jr. in 1967 and spent the rest of her life as a loving and dedicated military housewife. In their many tours of duty together, she was an active member of the Officers Wives Club where she enjoyed serving in many different roles, including Chairwoman of the Tours Committee. She also spent countless hours shuttling her boys and their friends to athletic practices and scouting events while they were growing up. She loved to travel, collect antiques, play Bridge with her mother’s friends, care for her many animals, bake cakes and pies for family gatherings and whip up the best dang sugar cookies that ever entered the classrooms of Southside Elementary School in Starke. One of her greatest passions was attending her weekend long class reunions with all of her Madrid friends and reminiscing into the wee hours of the morning. She was very loving, strong, feisty, opinionated, a pistol and had a big caring heart. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Muriel Wilson and her brother, Ray Courtney Wilson. She is survived by: her husband of 53 years, Colonel (Ret.) James F. Dougherty, Jr.; four children, Courtney Dougherty, Chris (Tiffany) Dougherty, Patrick (Chris) Belden, and Peter Dougherty; five grandchildren, Ryan, McKenzie, Deklan, Joshua and Ashlyn. She also leaves behind five brothers and sisters, Wendie (John) Crommelin, Jackie (Steve) Sullivan, Billie Doreen (John) Bloom, William Wilson, Jr., and John (Becky) Wilson. A Celebration of Life will be held over the upcoming holiday season.