On Friday, April 18, 2025 at 12:30 pm Rayburn Thomas Daugherty passed away peacefully in the comfort of his home in Hopedale under the committed and loving care of his wife Evelyn.  

He was born December 1, 1934 in Atlanta, IL to Orval  and Floy Daugherty with siblings Dorene, Vernon and Norma waiting at home for him.  They all have preceded him in death and our hope is they are now reunited in our Heavenly Father’s presence. 

Ray is survived by his wife Evelyn and three children, Nina (Mike) Riegler of McLean, IL, Benjie Daugherty (Jen Cleinmark) of Atlanta, IL and Dana Ann Daugherty-Perez of Urbana, IL.  His  joys were the grandchildren,  Aaron (Savannah), Ethan and Isaac Riegler,  Mitchell Daugherty (Aly) , Shelby Daugherty Wall (Dustin) and especially the precious last one Morgan Raeann Perez.  There are eight great grandchildren with one on the way.

Ray and Evelyn (Lay) met at the 'telephone office' in Green Valley  where Evelyn lived.  After dating three years, they were married at the Green Valley Methodist Church on Dec16th,1958.    Ray served in the Army Infantry with honorable discharge then began his agricultural career with Pioneer Hybrid Seed in Morton, IL where he advanced to Plant Supervisor.  The coworkers in those years at the Morton plant were considered close work family and all their names and faces were familiar in our home.   Ray was known as 'a company man' and his boots covered immeasurable miles in the local seed fields during detasseling season.  

 A new Pioneer Plant in Woodhull, IL  was opened in1986 and being newly empty nesters, he and Evelyn moved  to Oneida IL for work .   Ray retired from Pioneer in 1992 having served 45 years.  He then worked for FS in Wataga another 10 years until moving back to Hopedale in 2012.   

His favorite retirement past times included attending auctions and bidding on antique furniture, then restoring the piece for Evelyn to finish it.  He was also an avid fan of any of his grandkid’s sports and frequently followed the team schedules around and out of state.  His devotion to the Cubs baseball organization was passed on to all his grandsons.  Old country music was always playing on an 8-track player in the garage while he did his woodworking. 

Ray was a member of the Hopedale United Methodist Church, having joined the church and being baptized the same Easter Sunday in 1961 as his daughter.  This started a lifelong dedication of service to the Hopedale congregation by being on the board of trustees,  assisting in ongoing building maintenance and participating in men's group.

Ray was quiet but his act of service to others was shown by providing practical help.  As his parents and mother-in-law aged he meticulously maintained and cared for their homes and yards, when any of his children moved to a new home he was always present doing whatever was needed from painting, building pasture gates or servicing lawn mowers.   

God provided us years beyond our expectations with dad, and though they may have been challenging at times they were worth every second given to us.  

A special thank you to Dr Matthew Rossi for his unrelenting care and to our helpers Kristelle and Savannah, who made caring for Dad in his home much easier.  

A memorial service will be at 11:00 am Thursday at the Hopedale United Methodist Church.  Pastor Charles Graul and Frank Brozenec will officiate.  Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:45 am Thursday at the church.  Burial will be in Orendorff Cemetery in Hopedale.  Davis-Oswald Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

In Lieu of flowers please make memorials to Hopedale Rescue Squad.