Dorothy-May Ellen Daugherty Podurgal, age 86, died peacefully at her home on Jan. 9, 2016.
She was born on November 1, 1929, in Los Angeles, CA, to the late Arthur and Myra Wilbur Daugherty.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 12, 2016, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. and Wednesday, January 13, 2016, from 10:00 a.m. until the hour of service at Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. at the Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Chapel. Burial will follow the funeral service at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West in Hopkinsville, KY.
She was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Deacon Dominic Azzara will offer the funeral service. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.
Dorothy served in the U.S. Army Women’s Army Corps (WAC) from 1947 to 1950, and was stationed at various Army posts during her service. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (Col. William Edmiston Chapter), and along with her husband, was a member of the Military Officers’ Association of America (MOAA).
Her husband, Emanuel (Sam) Podurgal, served in the U.S. Army for 25 years, which necessitated many moves throughout the United States and in Germany. Dorothy served as an elementary school teacher; a teacher for handicapped students; and a teacher of English as a Second Language. At Fort Campbell, KY, she taught Basic Skills Education to military personnel.
She was an adjunct professor at Austin Peay State University at the Fort Campbell Education Center for approximately eight years. While living in Davenport, Iowa, she was the Probation Supervisor for the 7th Judicial District, and became a licensed Realtor in Tucson, Arizona. Her hobbies included quilt-making and gardening, and she became a skillful wood-carver.
She gave many of the quilts and wood carvings to family and friends. She was also a skilled skeet and trap shooter, and was a member of the Illinois State Women’s Skeet-Shooting Team.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers Hugh, Victor, Wilbur, Edward, Lee, John, and Donald. She is survived by her sister Mary Radabaugh and brother Gus (Anita) Tuason. She is also survived by her loving husband of 65 years, Emanuel (Sam) Podurgal; her marvelous children Michael (Mary), Fort Leonard Wood, MO; Richard (Amy), Raleigh, NC; and Cindy Chambers (Clarksville); along with her fantastic granddaughters Lindsay Chambers Springer (Paul); Katelyn Chambers, Claire Podurgal Hying (Brian), and Rose Podurgal Whitehurst (Jeremy).
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Immaculate Conception Elementary School or Precious Friends, 114 Kraft Street, Clarksville, TN 37040.
The family is especially grateful for the exceptional care and devotion shown by Asera Care and its staff.