Colonel James "Jim" F. Dougherty Jr.'s Obituary
Colonel James (Jim) F. Dougherty Jr., USAF, Retired died at the Lake City VA Medical Center on June 16.2022 at the age of 80, and is remembered as a Loving Husband, Father, Grandfather, Mentor and as being One of a Kind.
Colonel Dougherty was born January 31.1942 in Bayonne, New Jersey to James F. Sr. and Mayfred Dougherty. He graduated from Boston College with a Bachelor's Degree in Finance in 1963 before joining the Air Force in 1964. While in the Air Force he went on to get his Masters Degree in Business Administration from Troy State University. He is also a 1982 graduate of (ICAF) Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
Colonel Dougherty’s career in the Air Force started out as a Pilot (T-38’s) before moving into the Financial Management Arena. The unprecedented projects he tackled in Financial Management at Air Force and DOD level were a credit to his willingness to do the seemingly impossible in the interest of efficiency and streamlining processes to better account for hundreds of millions of dollars and support Military pay improvements for the Troops Worldwide.
Colonel Dougherty served in Vietnam and in Support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm from 2.August 1990-31.May 1994.
After retiring from the Air Force and setting up home in Gainesville, Florida Jim went on to do Financial Management consulting work in the Washington D.C area for another 12 years before returning to the Gainesville area.
Colonel Dougherty was active with the Boy Scouts growing up and his interests included cars and anything to do with car racing, model rockets, model trains, boat engines, reading and travel.
Military Awards and Decorations Include:
Defense Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster; Bronze Star Medal; Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters; Air Force Commendation Medal; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster; Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with two oak leaf clusters; National Defense Service Medal with one device; Vietnam Service Medal; Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon; Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters; Air Force Longevity, Service Award Ribbon with six oak leaf clusters; Air Force Training Ribbon; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Device; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
He was a member of the ASMC American Society of Military Comptrollers, MOAA-Military Officers Association and TROA -The Retired Officers Association.
Colonel Dougherty is survived by his sister MaryAnn Dougherty (Lake Tahoe, Nevada); four sons Wendell Courtney Dougherty (Gainesville, Florida), Joseph Christopher (Tiffany) Dougherty (Starke, Florida), James William Patrick Dougherty (Christopher Belden) (Seattle, Washington), and Peter Wilson Dougherty (Gainesville, Florida) ; and five grandchildren Ryan, McKenzie, Deklan, Josh and Ashlyn.
He was preceded in death by his parents James F. Sr and Mayfred Dougherty and his loving wife Muriel (Del) Dougherty.
The Dougherty family would like to thank all their friends for their loving support and kindness. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at https://www.alz.org
On the plains of hesitation lie the blackened bones of countless millions who at the dawn of victory lay down to rest, and in resting died. Adlai Stevenson
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, July 5th, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Williams Thomas Funeral Home Downtown 404 N. Main Street Gainesville, FL. Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
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