Vivian B. Daugherty

Vivian B. Daugherty, 92, longtime resident of Lexington and Johnson Lake, died Friday, December 7, 2012, at Hilltop Estates Nursing Home in Gothenburg, Nebraska. She was born April 20, 1920, in Green Cove, Virginia, to Elmer and Rosa (Lewis) Blevins, and graduated from Konnarock High School in 1939. As the eldest of four sisters, and with Rosa having passed away when Vivian was twelve, she remained in Green Cove until she moved to Washington, DC to work as a switchboard operator for the telephone company. There she met Ivan Glen Daugherty and they were married on January 31, 1942. They returned to Ivan’s home state of Nebraska after WWII with two children, and began their domestic life, as Ivan followed a career with the phone company in Grand Island, Omaha, Lexington, and finally Grand Island. Five children were born to this union. After retirement in 1980, they moved to Johnson Lake where they lived until Ivan passed in 2007. The last twenty-seven years of their married life was spent in retirement and traveling in their motorhome throughout the United States as well as excursions into Central America, and vacations in Hawaii with Viv’s sisters and husband. Vivian was a devoted mother and enjoyed nothing more than spending time with her children and grandchildren whenever possible. With Ivan, Vivian was an advocate for the mentally retarded, and instrumental in the formation of Mid-Nebraska Individual Services, on behalf of their son Kenneth. They were founding members of Parkview Baptist Church in Lexington and instrumental in its growth. Vivian loved the church and its fellowship, and much of their social life revolved around this network of friends. She is survived by her children; Wayne (Dolly) Daugherty of Arkansas; Linda (Bill) Behn of Jeffrey Lake; Kenneth Daugherty of Gothenburg, Nebraska; and Cynthia Clark of Gothenburg, Nebraska; sisters, Stella Casto and Edna (Chester) Finagin, all of Silver Springs, Maryland; daughter-in-law, Diedre Daugherty of Pueblo, Colorado; nine grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and by numerous cousins, nephews and nieces. One of the cousins said of Vivian, “Everyone who knew her, loved her.” Vivian was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Rosa Blevins; sister, Virginia Tolliver; son, Dale and husband, Ivan. Funeral Services will be held Thursday, December 13, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. at the Parkview Baptist Church in Lexington with Reverend John Shields officiating. Burial will be at 2:00 p.m. that same afternoon at Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, Nebraska. Visitation will be held Wednesday, December 12, 2012, from 5-7 p.m. at the Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington. Memorials are suggested to Parkview Baptist Church. Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is in charge of arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family at: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com.