Mary Lea Doughty was born June 26, 1952, in Maryville, Missouri, to Wayne Eldon Nelson and Mary Irene (Everhart). She was the oldest of six children born to this union. She returned to her Heavenly home on July 8, 2023.

Mary grew up in the Elmo, Missouri, area. Her junior year of high school the family moved to a farm near Westboro, Missouri. Mary graduated from Tarkio High School, Tarkio, Missouri, in May of 1970. She then attended a semester of schooling at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville.

On December 29, 1970, she married Danny Moore. Over the next five years two children were born into this family. They raised their family on the farm, just miles from both sets of grandparents and many other family members and beloved neighbors. Mary spent many years being a stay-at-home mom and farm wife. Once the children were older, she worked at the Excel beef packing plant. They later divorced.

Mary married Paul L. Doughty on September 15, 1991. They attended LPN school in Maryville together, graduating in 1993. In 1994, they moved to Florida where Mary worked as a nurse for the Pacso County Jail, until she retired. There she met many coworkers who became beloved friends.

In May of 2020 Mary and Paul returned to Missouri to be closer to her children and grandchildren. She spent the last few years attending sporting events, weddings, graduations, church activities and family dinners.

Mary was a faithful member of the United Methodist Church in Blanchard, Iowa. Countless hours were spent teaching, attending, serving meals, and even driving elderly neighbors to church. This giving example laid a great foundation for her children. Mary currently attended the United Methodist Church in Albany, Missouri, where she found a welcoming supportive congregation.

Mary loved to grow fresh vegetables, sew, bake, crochet, enjoy nature, and read. She utilized all of these talents to serve and bless the lives of others.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Paul. She is survived by her siblings, Wayne Nelson (Terri), Frances Stockstill (Mark), Kathy Vaughan (Kenny), William Nelson (Sherrie), and Martha Young (Jim); children, Kristie Poppa (Randy), and Mike Moore; grandchildren, Megan (Benjamin), Daniel (Holly), Sarah (Tanner), Dallas, Emily, Lily, Jordan, Timothy, Chloe, Paul, and Samuel. Her first great-grandchild, Luke, was born in February and her second great-grandson will be born in September. She is also survived by numerous beloved nieces, nephews, extended family members, and lifelong friends.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 12, at the United Methodist Church, Albany. The family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. until service time at the church. At 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday there will be a brief service at Home Cemetery in Tarkio. All family and friends are invited to attend any of these services in honor of Mary Lea. Memorials may be directed to Home Cemetery or Albany United Methodist Church Loving Stitches in care of the Roberson-Polley Chapel, 403 N. Hundley, Albany, MO 64402.