Louise T. Dougher

 Louise T. Dougher, 93, of Grace Ridge, Morganton, NC died Sunday, December 21, 2014 at her residence surrounded by her family.  Born June 10, 1921 in Logansport, IN, she was a daughter of the late, Rodney and Mary Lafferty Troutman.  In 1944 she married John Dougher and over the course of their marriage, they had five children.  Family was of the utmost importance to both Louise and John and most early vacations were spent visiting family.  After living in Knoxville, TN for a number of years, she and her family moved to Morganton in 1963, where John began his career with Inmont.  They developed a love of R.V. travel which took them all over the U.S.A. and Canada.  She was an excellent card player, especially Bridge, which she continued to play well past her 93rd birthday.  Louise was very serious about her card playing and taught her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren the proper way to play.  She liked to hold her cards close to her face so that no one could see her hand which elicited the question from a young granddaughter, "Granny, why do you sniff your cards?" She was an avid golfer and a member of Mimosa Hills Golf and Country Club.  She and John enjoyed a very active social life with family and friends and were very active with the local Penguin Club dances.  They spent extensive time making sure their daughter, Anita was given full opportunity to get an education which would match her abilities.  Following John's retirement in 1986, they moved with their daughter, Anita to their retirement home in Lehigh Acres, FL.  There, they were constantly busy with golf, church activities, traveling the world and U.S.A., and extensive entertaining of family and friends.  The annual Christmas family gathering at Fripp Island, SC was always a high point of the year.  In 2005, they returned to Morganton and, a few years later, they moved into Grace Ridge.  Louise's daughters express their heartfelt appreciation to the residents and staff at Grace Ridge for the friendship, love, and care shown to Louise during her residence there.

In addition to her parents, Louise was preceded in death by her husband, John J. Dougher to whom she was married for almost 64 years; a son, John J. Dougher, Jr.; a sister, Mary Alberts; and three infant grandchildren.

Surviving to cherish her memory are her daughters, Mary Lou Sossoman, Maureen Dougher, and Anita Dougher all of Morganton, and Ann Lentz and her husband, Ray of Beaufort, SC; grandchildren, Matt Dougher, Jay Dougher, Mark Sossoman and wife, Rachel, Teresa Cass and husband, Gary, Cindy Rios, Kathleen Link and husband, Ed, Alex Rios and wife, Sheleena, Jennifer Bianchi, Brian Lentz and David Lentz; great grandchildren, Brendan, Conner, and Ian Sossoman, Barrett Dougher, Elizabeth and Patrick Link, and Keira Rios; a brother, Johnny Troutman of Phoenix, AZ; and a number of nephews and nieces.

The funeral Mass will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, December 27, 2014 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church with Father Kenneth Whittington officiating. Burial will follow in Forest Hill Cemetery.  The family will receive friends at the church for one hour before the Mass.  Memorial gifts may be made to St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 728 W. Union St., Morganton, NC  28655.