Dougherty, Kathleen

The life journey of Kathleen Dougherty, 100, of 209 32nd St. NW, ended Monday, Sept. 5, 2011. Funeral mass will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Patrick Catholic Church, by the Rev. Ivan Nienhaus. Burial: Mount Calvary Cemetery. A rosary will be recited Thursday at 4 p.m. and a vigil service will be held at 5 p.m. Please join the family at the visitation at Teahen Funeral Home Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. or Friday from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. at St Patrick Catholic Church.

Kathleen was born July 27, 1911, in Holbrook, Iowa, the daughter of Hugh and Catherine (Sullivan) Butler. Kathleen's family moved to Cedar Rapids when she was 10 years old. She graduated from Immaculate Conception High School in 1930 and married Edward Dougherty on April 18, 1934, at St. Patrick Church. They had three children: Mary Patricia, James and John. Kathleen was co-secretary for their co-owned business, Dougherty and Day Welding for many years.

She was a longtime member of St. Patrick Church, St. Christopher Circle and National Catholic Society of Foresters. She served as a representative for St. Patrick's Church Women United, was on St. Patrick's Board of Education, and was active in RCIA.

Ed and Kathleen were charter members of the Linn County Association for Retarded Citizens now known as Arc of East Central Iowa. Kathleen served as president of the group from 1955 to 1956 and served on several Iowa and national Arc committees. Kathleen spent her life as a homemaker and nurturing caregiver. She cared for her mother, Catherine Butler; invalid son, Jimmy; husband, Edward; brother-in-law, Emmet; and sister, Lavonia, through their illnesses and passing. Her family was her life.

In the few years she had to enjoy traveling she and her sister Lavonia went to Ireland, the Calgary rodeo and World Fair in Canada, leaf viewing in northeast United States, and many other places.

Kathleen was preceded in death by her son, James; husband, Edward; grandson, Ronnie Ceynar; son-in-law, Dave Ceynar; brothers, Bill (Alta) and John (Fern) Butler; and sisters, Anna Mary (Bill) McHugh, Lucille (Felix) Simkavitz, Winifred (Stanley) Rayman and Lavonia (Art) McMahon.

She leaves behind to grieve a daughter, Mary Patricia (Dave) Ceynar of Thorton, Colo.; a son, John (Diane) Dougherty of Marion; grandchildren, Linda (Mike) Conley, Lisa Ceynar, Denise Ceynar, Nicole (Josh) Mauzey, Shawn Dougherty, Brian (Dana) Bailey and Lynn Witherell; great-grandchildren, Jacob Conley, Billy (Jessica), Ricky and Kate Engler, Vito Paul, David and Gianna Lopo, Jace Dougherty, Jack and Finn Mauzey, Troy Brincks and Conner and Branden Bailey; great-great-grandchildren, Alexis, Devin and Allison Engler and soon to be born, Lance Engler; nieces, Judy Hensley, Marlene (Bob) Smejkal, Janey Simkavitz and Lavonne (George) Andrews; nephews, Gerry (Lois) Rayman and Lee Shonka; her good neighbors, Fred and Julie Cernin and Evelyn Elwonger; and special friends, Denise Rodenkirk and Kathleen Houser.

Special thanks to Dr. Mary Ann Nelson, the Hiawatha Care Center staff, the Village Ridge staff, and Mercy Medical Center Palliative Care staff.

Contributions may be made to Arc of East Central Iowa or to St. Patrick Catholic Church.

Online condolences may be left for the family at

Published Sept. 8, 2011, in The Gazette

Date of birth has been corrected to 1911 per funeral home.