Lauretta Dougherty, retired secretary

Lauretta M. Dougherty, a retired secretary who lived in Ridgefield for 40 years, died Friday, Dec. 1, in Newark, Del. She was 86, and the widow of the late James Dougherty.
She was born Lauretta Mather and was a descendant of Cotton Mather. She grew up in Darien went to Darien schools.
She met her husband during World War II. He was an accountant. The Doughertys lived in Stamford for a time, then moved to Ridgefield 40 years ago, and had a house on Old Washington Road. Mr. Dougherty died in 1977.
Mrs. Dougherty worked for many years as a secretary for Kanthal Corporation in Stamford, and later worked at the medical office of Dr. Rebecca Boorer.
Carol Scherrer, a former neighbor, said that Mrs. Dougherty was a woman of wide-ranging interests who followed politics and world affairs, was very interested in people, and loved nature. “She was very well read,” she said.
Mrs. Dougherty was very independent, and even in her 80’s would drive by herself from Ridgefield to Vermont in spring and fall to visit friends there, Ms. Scherrer said.
Mrs. Dougherty lived the last two months of her life in Wilmington, Del., near her nephew, Stephen M. Howard. Besides Mr. Howard she is survived by some great-nieces and -nephews, and many friends.
Memorial services will be private.