Beverly A. Doughty

Beverly A. Doughty, age 91 of Portland, passed away peacefully on July 23, 2022 at the Maine Medical Center after a short illness. She was born in August 1930 and named Jean Louise (with no surname given on her birth certificate). We discovered when she was 85 years old, by DNA testing and investigation, that she was the birth daughter of Lorraine Saunders and Joseph Silverman. She was raised by Blanche and Clifford Cooper and is the sister of both Wayne A. Cooper and the late Charles Guptill. She was the wife of Aftin H. Doughty Sr. (deceased 2014).

Beverly lived all of her life in Portland. She attended Portland schools, graduating from Deering High School in 1948, and, in her later years, had the pleasure of reconnecting with eight of her Deering classmates while they all lived at The Park Danforth on Stevens Avenue. She was an active participant at what is now the Williston-West Immanuel United Church for most of her life, and she cherished her friendship with the Rev. Eric Kelley, now retired to his home in Jonesport.

In her early years she enjoyed working as a secretary to the Portland stockbroker Clifford J. Murphy. While the children were growing up, Beverly teamed up with Aftin to run the family businesses: first Rocky’s Mobile on the corner of St. John St and Brighton Avenue, and then afterwards, Rocky’s Sunoco in Knightville. She participated in the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) of her children’s schools, and frequently volunteered to collect donations for the March of Dimes. She worked most recently in the cafeteria of the former Fred P. Hall School in Portland.

Beverly was the heart of our family and loved nothing better than sharing laughter along with a good meal. She was an accomplished cook, and also enjoyed playing the piano, round dancing, reading, and doing crossword puzzles in her spare time. And she loved her cats! 

Beverly is survived by her brother Wayne Cooper; four children; Aftin H. Doughty Jr. and wife Denise Green of Kingston, NH, Naleen A. Mayberry and husband Bruce of Yarmouth, ME, Kendalee G. O'Connor and husband James O’Connor of South Portland, and Leland C. Doughty of Auburn; and her half-sister Elaine Silverman Lewis. She is also survived by grandchildren, a niece and nephews, great-grandchildren, and by friends who she considered to be family, including Ellie Brown and life-long friend Marilyn Harford. We are honored and grateful for the warm welcome offered by her close and extended Silverman family.

A private graveside service is being planned. Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Portland.

In lieu of flowers, please send gifts to the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland, PO Box 336, Westbrook, ME 04098, or go to www.arlgp.org/memorial.

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