Our Obituaries

Douglas Franklyn Cherry of Winston Salem, NC, formerly of Port Jervis and Montgomery, NY, passed away at his home with loved ones by his side on May 12, 2009. He was 75 years old.He was born February 8, 1934 in Port Jervis, NY, the son of the late Franklyn L. Cherry and Margaret Aughton Cherry.He attended Port Jervis High School where he graduated in 1952. He attended the State University of New York at Delhi where he majored in Building Construction and Drafting. He later attended New York University and the State University of New York at Albany to obtain his teaching credentials.After being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1954, he spent most of his time working at surveying and communications. He particularly enjoyed his time in Germany building bridges on the Rhine with the Army Corps of Combat Engineers.After being honorably discharged from the Army he continued working for his father's construction company, where he had worked since the age of 16. He began his teaching career at the New York State School for Boys in New Hampton, until he was hired by Orange-Ulster BOCES, where he started the building construction program. He remained with Orange-Ulster BOCES, where he also established a placement coordinator position which he held until leaving BOCES. He later operated a dairy farm in the Town of Crawford. He and his wife Marylou also owned and operated an Adult Care Home taking care of AHRC residents and VA patients. He was a member of Scotchtown Presbyterian Church, where he served as an Elder and Director of Christian Education.From the time Doug was a child, he loved horses. He owned and cared for several over the course of his lifetime. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was always interested in technology and was an avid Amateur Radio operator since earning his license in 1963. He was always a teacher at heart, teaching anyone he came in contact with. He was proud of his children and grandchildren, and enjoyed the time he had with them.He is survived by his wife, Marylou of Winston-Salem, NC; his three children: Michael Cherry and his wife, Moncia of Huguenot, Franklyn Cherry of Montgomery, and Melanie Cherry-Conklin and her husband, E. Joseph Conklin of Winston-Salem, NC; his grandchildren: Michael, Echo, and Kalista; his canine companion, Hudson; his sister, Diane Archer of Dansville; several cousins, nieces and nephews.Funeral Services will be held Friday, May 22, at 10:30 a.m. at Drew United Methodist Church, Sussex St., Port Jervis, NY, with The Rev. Robert Hoag officiating. Internment will take place at Pine Hill Cemetery in Sparrowbush, NY.The family requests that memorial donations may be made to The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), 1401-B Old Mill Circle, Winston-Salem, NC 27103 or Hospice & Palliative Carecenter, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.Arrangements by Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY; 845-856-3312. For information, directions, or to send condolences, please visit Knight-Auchmoody.com.