John Houston Doherty, 86, of Amarillo died Tuesday, April 15, 2003. Mr. Doherty was born March 17, 1917, in Bentonville, Ark. He had lived in Amarillo since 1929. During the depression, at the age of 12, he had his first job; selling newspapers on Polk Street. Before his 14th birthday he was working for Fox Drug Store. He graduated from Amarillo High School in 1935 and that same year married Maurine Prater.

He served his country during World War II in the Air Force as a bombardier on a B-17. He was a POW for 11 months in Germany before being liberated by General George Patton's army in 1945. After returning from the war, he worked for Cretney Drug at Sixth and Polk Street and later as a drug representative for Southwestern Drug Wholesale. He opened D&D Pharmacy with his partner Houston DeFord in 1953. He was baptized at First Baptist Church shortly after moving to Amarillo. He was a charter member of Tascosa Country Club.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Vivian Morris Doherty and William Doherty; two sisters, Helen Doherty Hitchcock and Mildred Doherty; and a brother, William Eugene Doherty.

Survivors include his wife of 68 years; two sons, Ray and wife, Danny, and David and wife, Vickie; grandchildren, Darla Gammons, Cyd Marusak, Dana Doherty and Katie Doherty, all of Amarillo, Dr. Amber Whittenburg of Temple and Major John Doherty of San Antonio;seven great-grandchildren; nieces; and a nephew.

JH Doherty headstone