Martha Jo Dougherty
Ava, MO

Martha Jo Dougherty, the daughter of Fred O. Lethco Sr. and Madge (Adams) Lethco was born Nov. 12, 1929 in Old Merritt, Missouri and departed this life Feb. 12, 2010 at the of 80 years and 3 moths.

Martha Jo was a lifelong resident of the Ava area and obtained her Master of Education form Drury and was a teacher and school counselor for 30 years in the Ava School System.

Aug. 18, 1951 Martha Jo and James Leroy Dougherty were united in marriage in Ava, MO. Martha and Leroy were blessed with one daughter, Lora.

Martha loved painting, sewing, Eastern Star and being with her family and friends. She was a lifelong member of the Ava United Methodist Church and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Ava Chapter #47.

Martha was preceded in death by her parents, Fred O. Lethco and Madge Lethco, her husband, Leroy, and a sister, Carleen Lethco-Ryan. She is survived by one daughter, Lora Jo Alexander and husband, Bryan, of Granby, CO, two grandchildren, Austin and Lakin Bogart, Ava, MO, Joe Bogart, the father of her grandchildren and her care giver, one brother, Fred Lethco Jr, Springfield, one niece, Ann McNamer of Fair Grove, MO, one nephew, Jim Crain, of Springfield, MO, one great niece, Allison Miles of Fair Grove, MO, her aunt, Sybil Carmichael of Springfield, and her good friend, Polly Ousley.

Services will be 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010 in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home with the Rev. Oren Alcorn officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday 1:00 P.M to service time. Interment will follow in the Ava Cemetery.