Rita Margaret Dougherty

Passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at the age of 97. Rita is remembered as a caring wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend. Indeed, all who knew her appreciated how she would lean in and listen intently, making each person feel special and important.

Rita was born April 8, 1926, in Crestline, Ohio, the daughter of William Meyers and Helen McDermott Meyers. From the age of fourteen, upon the early passing of her mother, Rita helped her father raise her younger siblings Patricia and Edward. She attended Ohio University where she was an active member of Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority and graduated with a BA in Business. On October 10, 1953, she married the love of her life, Harold Dougherty, at Old Saint Mary’s Church in San Francisco. They were married for 52 years before Harold’s passing in 2005. Rita was the proud mother of children, William Dougherty, wife Emily Rainey; Kathleen Boyd, husband Richard; James Dougherty, wife Tina Amidon; Mary Dougherty, husband Brian Carilli. Adored grandmother of Hannah; Erin, Jeffrey, and Caitlin; Jessica, Mark, Patrick, Sam and Annie. Rita joyfully welcomed being a great grandmother to nine.

Coupled with her empathetic nature, Rita possessed a sharp intellect. She was an engaged citizen throughout her life on matters of the world and in the local community. Volunteering was intrinsic to Rita’s caring nature, and she was a longtime docent at the Oakland Museum and donated her time and energy to many other charitable foundations during her life. St. Paul’s Towers Retirement Community was Rita’s home for over a decade at the time of her passing. During her golden years, she enjoyed her many friends and activities there.

At a later date, Rita will be interred beside her husband, in a private family service at The National Cemetery in Dixon, California. Those who wish to remember Rita in a special way may make gifts in her memory to The Oakland Museum, 1000 Oak Street, Oakland, CA 94067 (www.museumca.org), or to St. Paul’s Towers, A Circle of Friends, 100 Bay Place, Oakland, CA 94610.