Melba Sue Dougherty went to meet her lord and savior in the morning of Aug. 25, 2014, surrounded by family and friends at Whidbey General Hospital. She was 75 years of age.

Melba Sue was born in Carroll County, Tenn., Aug. 20, 1939, to Leslie and Arndell Belew. Her childhood was spent on the family farm near Roan’s Creek, south of Clarksburg, Tenn., picking cotton and working all the chores a farm kid might do.

Melba graduated from Clarksburg High School and attended Lambuth University in Jackson, Tenn. She worked for Southern Bell Phone Company in Memphis as a bookkeeper.

In April of 1960 she met and married, a sailor named Lee Dougherty. Later in 1960, she followed her husband to San Diego, and for the next 20 years, except for three years in Hawaii and one year in Oak Harbor, they called Chula Vista home.

Melba and Lee celebrated the birth of two children, Daniel, born in San Diego, and David, born in Honolulu.

In 1974 Melba, Lee and their sons moved back to Oak Harbor. Melba was an active Scout leader, a member of the Whidbey Island Rock and Gem Club, Stamp Club and Senior Center. She worked for, and retired from, the Navy Exchange. Her joy was her three grandchildren, her church friends at the Oak Harbor Church of Christ, her Navy Exchange girlfriends, her sons and husband.

Melba is survived by her husband, Lee; sons, Daniel of Everett and David of Hobart, Wash.; three granddaughters; and two brothers, Thomas and Dennis Belew of Tennessee.

Family graveside services for Melba will be held. Arrangements are entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home. To leave a condolence or share a message, please visit Melba’s Book of Memories page on the funeral home website at www.wallinfuneralhome.com