Having endured family hardships as a child fueled Dennis Daugherty’s passion to assist others and help make the world a better place.

Daugherty was the guy people sought to help breathe new life into the community, whether helping create fundraising projects or a program designed to assist single mothers. When the former Monument resident died on Feb. 7 at age 82, the phrase, “Your wings were ready, but our hearts were not” spoke volumes from those touched by Daugherty’s generosity and can-do spirit.

“Dennis was a dedicated, tireless, inspirational member of our community and our club for decades, a truly special person,” said James Head, president of the Monument Hill Kiwanis Club.

Daughterty was born on June 13, 1943 in South Bend, Ind. to William and Eleanor Daugherty, the second of four boys. When he was 10, his parents divorced, resulting in financial hardship. To support the family, Daugherty’s mother started a home sewing business. He assisted by handling cooking, ironing and sewing chores, and buying groceries and other home amenities.

Although poor reading skills made school difficult, Daugherty persevered. He pumped gasoline, learned mechanical skills and graduated high school. He later worked in a foundry and as a lathe operator for Studebaker Motors.

In December 1963, Daugherty entered the U.S. Air Force and trained in crypto maintenance. He married his teenage sweetheart, Sue Carol Nifong, on March 26, 1964.

Through the USAF, Daugherty built upon the skills he had been crafting since childhood. He maintained antennas and associated equipment throughout Central and South America, retrained in computer maintenance and developed expertise in North American Aerospace Defense Command programs used to respond to Soviet threats.

In 1970, Daugherty was accepted into the Airman’s Education and Commissioning program and attended the University of Oklahoma, earning a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1973. He completed Officer Training School at Lackland Air Force Base, earning a commission.

He served as transportation officer at Korat Air Base, Thailand, handling materials shipping and receipt. He later earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Oregon.

As vehicle control officer at Rhein-Main Air Base in Frankfurt, Germany, Daugherty was in charge of all base-assigned vehicles. Daugherty retired from the USAF as a major in 1985.

Following his retirement, Daugherty served as deputy to the vice president of Distribution for Coast-to-Coast Hardware, Edina, Minn. His responsibilities included inventory, printing plants, trade shows, truck fleets and warehousing. He was named vice president of logistics in 1989.

In 1992, Cost Plus Stores hired Daugherty as executive vice president of operations. He worked to help reduce operating costs, added new stores and took the company public as Cost Plus World Market. In 1998, Daugherty relocated to Colorado Springs, built his retirement home and later served in consulting jobs for hedge funds.

Daugherty joined the Monument Hill Kiwanis Club in 2000, devoting more than two decades to service and fundraising. He helped direct Kiwanis Bingo operations and helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“Our Bingo program, responsible in large part for the sound financial footing we enjoy today, thrived because of Dennis’s leadership and imagination,” Head said.

In 2010, Daugherty was named Kiwanian of the Year and served on the Kiwanis Foundation Investment Committee, helping the foundations’ funds grow from the mid–$50,000 range to more than $800,000. The financial standing of the foundation supports grants and programs that assist young people in the community.

Daugherty helped create fundraising projects including Christmas Coffee, Coolest Dog, and North Pole Arts and Craft Fair. Also, he shared his love of soap box derbies with his grandchildren.

“Dennis was a long-time supporter of the Soap Box Derby in which several of his grandchildren participated,” Head said.

He was enthusiastic about the Career Start program, designed to provide funding for young people who chose not to attend traditional colleges, but go into business. The program helped dozens of young people with their chosen careers.

“He was especially proud of our Career Start program, giving youth a hand up in pursuit of their chosen careers,” Head said. “His creative ideas and persistent search for ways to make the club better set the example for all of us.”

Daugherty saw how these programs helped many young people and related it as a tribute to his mom. To honor his late mother, Daugherty established the Eleanor C. Daugherty Education Foundation, Inc. The self-funded nonprofit organization provides single-parent mothers with financial assistance to accelerate completion of their degrees.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Daughterty relocated to Corpus Christi, Texas, to be closer to family. While there, he experienced a fall from which he never recovered. Daugherty died at Harbor Hospice in Portland, Texas.

Daugherty is survived by his wife, Sue, his children Dennis (Kristy) and Diane Fallier (Jason); grandchildren Jayleen, Landen and Wyatt Ingram, and Andrew and Tyler Daugherty; and great-grandson August Mark Daugherty. A memorial service was held on Feb. 23 at Winsteads’ Funeral Home in Portland.

According to MHKC member Mark Anderson, everyone who knew Daugherty said he had “constant energy, total drive to give back after having lived the American dream.”

“He gave his full commitment to our club every day,” Head said. “His legacy lives on in our mission of not just making a difference but making a positive difference.”

Anyone wishing to make a donation is encouraged to contact a local college or community organization that supports single mothers pursuing higher education. To learn more visit www.winsteadsfuneralhome.com.