Edward Francis Dougherty Jr

Edward Francis Dougherty Jr., affectionately known as Eddie and Ed, passed away at the age of 66 on Monday, October 30, 2023, at his Fort Myers home.

Born on November 9, 1956, in Wilmington, Delaware to parents Edward Francis Dougherty Sr. and Elizabeth Ann Miller, Ed was the fourth of six beloved children: Denise, Karen, Sheila, himself, Sharon, and Bernard. At the age of five, his family relocated to Fort Myers, where he spent the entirety of his life, remaining close to his brothers and sisters. He was a cherished, unwavering, dependable brother, who was always there to lend a helping hand when his family needed it most.

He graduated from Fort Myers High School in 1975. Many of his closest friends were folks he’d met at school at a young age and stuck with since. They helped each other through the good times and the bad. Despite never holding back from busting their chops, Ed always expressed how grateful he was to have such good, consistent people in his life looking out for him.

In 1995, Ed welcomed his first son, Edward Francis Dougherty III, affectionately known as Trey. In 1997, his only daughter, Adrian, entered his life, and in 2001, his second son, Brogan, completed their family. Nothing brought him more joy than the moments spent with them, whether it was grilling steaks, taking them tubing on the river, playing games, having heartfelt conversations, or simply sitting and spending time together. He often shared his pride in his children with his friends. His face would light up as he shared pictures and stories of their accomplishments.

He started his first business at 15, mowing lawns, and he explored the trade world until he found his niche in screening. As the sole proprietor of Ed Dougherty Inc., a business dedicated to screen services and repair work, Ed took great pride in his work. A people person by nature, he relished the interactions with his clients, often gracing them with his quick wit and humor, even if it went over their heads. At 66, he was still 30-feet up, balancing on top of pool cages on 2-inch aluminum beams.

Ed's love for wildlife, quality time with friends and family, and a fondness for the water defined his life. One of his greatest pleasures was enjoying a drink at a waterside restaurant and sharing the sunset with someone he loved. His competitive spirit and wise-cracking attitude made him the life of any party. He was the first to offer a helping hand to anyone and everyone who was in need. He loved shared meals, sports, games, and music. Although he was often a man of few words, he never failed to infuse every occasion with joy and laughter.

Ed leaves behind his cherished children, Trey, Adrian, and Brogan, along with his devoted siblings, Denise, Karen, Sheila, Sharon, and Bernard, and a host of nieces and nephews whom he loved deeply. He is preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Elizabeth Dougherty.

A service will be held at the Church of the Resurrection of Our Lord, 8121 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33919, on November 9, 2023, at 12 pm. Father McNamara, a long-time friend of the Dougherty family, will preside over the service.

Ed's cremation and other arrangements are entrusted to the Harvey-Engelhardt Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, we kindly request that those who wish to honor Ed's memory and support his family consider making donations to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org/donate), a cause Ed held dear throughout his life.