Barbara Ann Doughty

Barbara Ann Galer was born February 19, 1933 to Ray and Anne Galer. She was the younger sister to Ray, and older sister to Harry.

She grew up in Lincoln Park and was a graduate of the January class of 1951. In March of 1952, while working at a bank, she was invited to a coworkers wedding. It was a small wedding and her friends spotted some single guys and came up with a plan. They pooled all the change they were carrying and dared her to go ask one of them to dance. The one she picked was Jerry Doughty. They were married on August 2, only 4 months later. He told her he wasn't really interested in having kids. They had 3 children, Clark, Jill and Laura, and lived for the next 61 years on Buckingham street in Allen Park.

Barbara was a stay-at-home mom active in scouting and church. She did many arts and crafts but enjoyed knitting the most. In the summer of 1969, the 5 of us took a memorable 10 week trip in a small 16’ travel trailer and toured much of the country. As the kids grew older, Barb learned medical billing and worked for a busy orthopedic practice. When Jerry retired, they bought a larger travel trailer and again took off to see the country. They eventually settled in Mesa AZ, near their good friends Shirley and Ray Dulla. They were snowbirds for 24 years. They were like kids at summer camp, except it was winter and they could drink margaritas. They moved to Oakwood Commons and Barb enjoyed all the wonderfulfriends and activities for almost 5 years.

But times were not always easy for my mom. She had a defective heart valve which caused her problems most of her adult life. She had more surgeries and hospitalizations than any person should have to endure. In 1984, my mom survived encephalitis, a brain infection. It was a type that most people died from, or spent their remaining days in a nursing home. But she survived and she decided then that she would take anything that came her way without complaint. Over the last 34 years she has endured both hips and shoulders being replaced, a fractured pelvis, open heart surgery, and at least 6 other surgeries. But she never complained. But last week, two days after another surgery, she was told they needed to go back in to look for whatever was wrong. She said no. She had had enough. She believed in the Lord and trusted that He would take her home. She signed all the necessary papers herself, asked us to look after our Dad and was at peace with her decision. My mother loved the Lord, her family, and especially that guy she asked to dance at that wedding so many years ago and knew it was time to move from this life to the next.

The phrase I have heard most often to describe my mom is “she is so sweet”. And she really was. And very entertaining. When checking into the hospital last week, she told everyone, from the admitting clerk to the surgeon, that she wanted a “room with a view”. I finally told her that these people didn’t have control over those decisions and to pipe down. But there we were on the 7th floor, watching the sunrise over the Detroit River! And I know she now has a room in our Heavenly Father’s mansion with the best possible view.

Barbara is survived by her husband Jerry, children: Clark (Claudia), Jill Kleinsmith, Laura (Chris) Terwilliger, 7 grandchildren: Brian, Chris, Jeff, Amy, Andy, Emily, and Sarah and 2 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her favorite little brother Harry (Marlie) Galer, sister-in- laws Fran Galer, Elaine Doughty, Ruth Doughty, and many nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00 pm Sunday March 11, 2018 at Oakwood Commons, 16351 Rotunda, Dearborn, MI 48120

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to the Allen Park Presbyterian Church where Barb has been a member since marrying Jerry in 1952. Until we meet again, we love you Barbara Doughty!