Marilyn Dougherty, 79, passed away July 22, 2026, at Via Christi St. Francis, in Wichita, Kan. She was born April 30, 1947, in Great Bend, to Frank and Cecelia (Younger) Steffan. She married Dennis I. Dougherty April 20, 1968, in Great Bend.

Marilyn was a Great Bend High School graduate, then attended Fort Hays State University. Following her education, she worked for Fuller Brush then USD 428 as a teacher’s aide before transitioning to school secretary, primarily for Morrison and Lincoln Elementary schools. Her devoted employment for USD 428 spanned over 31 years until her retirement in 2013. She was a faithful member of Prince of Peace Parish and the Altar Society. Marilyn had a servant’s heart who made it her personal mission to silently ensure that every child felt loved and did not ever go without. Civically, she used her time to volunteer for the Blood Mobile and many other “behind-the-scenes” endeavors. She was always up for a game of cards especially if the game was Oh Hell or Pitch. She loved to tend to her garden and would take her bounty and can her goods to store or to share. There were also many people of the community who were recipients of her delicious baked goods, fried chicken, and tea towels, making certain that each one of her grandchildren were granted these special gifts.

Survivors include her cherished husband of 58 years, Dennis I. Dougherty; daughter, Jennifer Short and her husband Gene of Bushton; son, Brian Dougherty and his fiancée Jillian Hernden of Yukon, Okla.; brothers, Jerry Steffan and his wife Karen of Great Bend, Ken Steffan and his husband Mitch Weaver of Loganville, Ga.; grandchildren, Brandon Smith, Luke Short, Taylor Dougherty, Garrett Schmidt, Sage Schmidt, Cole Schmidt, Blaze Jacobs; great grandchildren, Baylor Hall, Elena Smith; brothers-in-law, James Zink of Olmitz, and Dan Haselhorst of Great Bend. She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Betty Zink, Beverly Haselhorst; and great granddaughter, Wrenlee Nykole White-Smith.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, July 27, 2026, at St. Patrick Catholic Church with Father Prakash Kola presiding. Interment will follow at Great Bend Cemetery. Visitation is available from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m, Sunday, July 26, 2026, with an Altar Society Rosary at 4 p.m., and a Vigil with Rosary at 7 p.m., at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials may be made out to Prince of Peace Parish, Barton County Food Bank or Donor’s Choice, in care of Bryant Funeral Home, 1425 Patton Rd., Great Bend, KS 67530. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Bryant Funeral Home

1425 Patton Road

Great Bend, KS 67530

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, July 25, 2026