Harold Gene Daugherty passed away Aug. 24, 2025, after a brief illness. Harold was born in Edmond, OK, on Dec. 10, 1943,to A.V. and Lucille Daugherty. He graduated from Shawnee High School in 1963. Harold married Margaret Carolyn Pearson on April 3, 1971 in the same church where they first met. Harold and Carolyn shared nearly 54 wonderful years together, building a life of faith, love, and service until Carolyn’s passing earlier this year. He and Carolyn fostered two young men who became their sons: James “Jamie” Daugherty, who was adopted into the family, and Carl Williams, who, though never formally adopted, was embraced as their own. In later years, Carl faithfully cared for Harold and Carolyn, especially after Carolyn’s passing. The family is deeply grateful for Carl’s love and devotion.
Hardworking and dependable, Harold held a variety of jobs over the years — from welding at A-1 Bit & Tool to delivering produce for Shawnee Fruit & Produce, to working with Sooner Fence Company. For many years, he worked for Buford White Lumber Company, both at the Discount Center downtown and at the Independence Street location. Harold faithfully taught 4th–6th grade Sunday School for many years. He served faithfully on church committees, hosted neighborhood block parties with Carolyn on the street where they lived and became known as “the bubblegum man” — always ready with bubblegum in his pocket to hand out to kids and adults alike.
One of his greatest legacies was the annual kids’ fishing tournaments he hosted at May’s Pond for at least 36 years. Many children caught their very first fish under Harold’s guidance. To make sure no child left empty-handed, Harold collected and repurposed old trophies so every participant left with a prize.
Harold is survived by his sons, Carl Williams and James Daugherty, both of Shawnee; his sisters Carolyn (Fred) Jones of Midwest City, OK, Mary (Bill) Weeks of Narrows, VA, Shirley (Alan) Alspaugh of Melbourne, FL, Linda (David) Wallace of Kemp, TX, and Kathy (Walter) Mullican of Bethany, OK; along with many beloved nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Carolyn; his brother, Bruce Daugherty; and his parents, A.V. and Lucille Daugherty.
A service celebrating Harold’s life will be held at 10 am. on Sept. 13, at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1451 E 45th St, Shawnee, OK. The service will be livestreamed and may be viewed at www.ibcshawnee.org/live In lieu of flowers, the family requests Bibles be donated through Gideons International (www.gideons.org). Other memorial gifts may be directed to Hilltop Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1803, Shawnee, OK 74802-1803.
If you still have a fishing trophy from one of Harold’s tournaments, the family invites you to bring it for display at his celebration service — a fitting tribute to a man who delighted in giving and in helping others share in the joy of life.
