Burdon “Duck” Daugherty was born on April 24, 1935, in Hastings, Neb., to parents Dean and Lorraine Daugherty. He was the youngest of 10 children – six sisters and three brothers. Duck was raised on the family farm, just outside the city limits of Hastings. As a young boy, Duck would often try to get out of farm duties, so he took up swimming in the farm irrigation pond, no matter the temperature, and earned the nickname of “Duck.”

As a fun-loving, rather challenging young school boy, excelling in football and sports in general, Duck was liked by all those he met. As an adventurous, life-of-the-party type guy, he was in contrast a seriously focused supportive team player. Duck’s early education began at District 60 School in Hastings, where he rode his favorite horse, Buck, to school. Duck played football as a halfback for Hastings High School, earning all-state honors. Upon graduation from Hastings High School in 1953, he received a full scholarship to Oklahoma State University. Proudly, Duck was the first and only one with such collegiate achievements within his family.

In 1958, Duck enlisted in the U. S. Army, joining the 101st Airborne as a paratrooper. When his superiors found out he played college football, they asked Duck if he would rather play ball than do kitchen duty. Duck’s reply was “show me the field, I’m in!” Duck played on the base’s football team for two years as a half-back and earned all-Army honors.

During Army training at the Yakima Firing Range, Duck met the love of his life at a social dance. On Aug. 1, 1958, Duck and Marilyn Palmer were married. In 1960, Duck returned to college, this time at Central Washington University, earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physical education.

In 1964, he started his teaching and coaching career at Eisenhower High School in Yakima, Wash. Duck also coached from 1967-1972 while living in Kennewick, Wash. Duck and Marilyn had two wonderful children, Jeff and Jill, now with families and careers of their own.

The Daugherty family accepted teaching positions in Oak Harbor in 1972, and their growing family finally settled on Whidbey Island in a beautiful hill-top home overlooking Puget Sound waters, affectionately called their “garden home estate.” Coach Daugherty continued his football coaching at Oak Harbor High School, during highly successful years until retirement.

Over time, family development and progression brought two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. With the reality of growing older and, he would admit, much wiser, Duck found himself a survivor of a thoroughly blessed existence, recalling lasting memories, his family, endless friends, sports, travels, teaching and his collector automobile interests.

Duck Daugherty shall indeed remain a comforting, shining light within his family, with friends and with neighbors.

Duck is survived by his children: Jill Sieffert (Larry) and Jeff Daugherty (Kelly Hassler), all of Oak Harbor; granddaughters Jessica J. Bingham (Aaron) of Graham and Jamesa Jane Woods of Des Moines, Wash.; and great-grandchildren Benjamin and Emily Bingham. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Marilyn, infant daughter Melissa Kay Daugherty, parents Dean and Lorraine Daugherty, and his nine brothers and sisters.

Duck Daugherty often joked with friends and family about his eventually passing, that he hoped to simply go to bed one calm night in his beloved home and just not wake up. Our Lord God most certainly granted his wish. Rest well, our loving friend and hero. We’ll miss you, Mr. Duck. Our hearts, though, will forever remember.

A memorial service for Duck Daugherty will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015 at the Oak Harbor First Reformed Church.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home & Cremation, LLC, Oak Harbor. The family encourages memories and condolences to be shared at www.wallinfuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Oak Harbor Wildcat Booster Club to assist student athletes with athletic fees. Donations should be marked “Duck Daugherty” and sent to Oak Harbor Wildcat Booster Club, PO Box 2312, Oak Harbor, WA 98277.