Andrew Jackson "Jack" Daugherty

Andrew Jackson “Jack” Daugherty passed away Jan. 14, 2015, at the age of 94, under the loving care of the Stroud Health Care Center, where he had lived for the past few years as his health declined.

Jack was born in Cleveland on Dec. 30, 1920, to Henry Clay “Hank” and Viola (Lucky) Daugherty. He attended Cleveland schools and played quarterback at Cleveland High School before graduating in 1939. He and Billie LaDema Richards were married on Jan. 2, 1942, and were united until her passing in 2003.

During World War II, Jack served in the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet as a Sea-Bee. For many years after the war, his battalion held reunions on every Labor Day weekend in rotating locations around the country, where each of its members lived.

Jack returned to Cleveland and started working for the REA Co-op in 1946 as an electrician. He eventually became the Co-op’s “Power Use Advisor” and retired after 40 years of service with the company. During those years he was active in Cleveland’s Kiwanis Club.

After their retirements, Jack and Billie fulfilled their dreams of traveling to Hawaii, Alaska, Montana, Las Vegas, and many other trips all over the U.S. In later years, he enjoyed spending his mornings helping his elder son at the Cleveland family restaurant which was his namesake, Cactus Jack’s.

Jack was a lifelong fan of baseball and college football, and loved music and Western movies. He is perhaps best known for his sense of humor – always crafting jokes, telling tall stories, and doing impersonations to make people laugh.

Jack was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Billie; his parents, and an older brother. He is survived by two sons, John R. “Dick” Daugherty of Houston, and Jackie A. Daugherty of Cleveland; four grandchildren, Shea (Mark) Sullivan and Clay Daugherty, both of Houston, Cody Daugherty of Prue, and Colin Daugherty. Jack also is survived by one first cousin, Earleen Harding Long of Bartlesville; and cousins Vinetta Alexander, Debbie Garrett, James “Jimbo” Alexander, John (Jackie) Alexander, Jason (Eslie) Keim, and Vicki Keim, all of Stroud.

Graveside services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17, at Woodland Cemetery in Cleveland. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to the Cleveland High School Athletic Department.