On Friday, May 13, 2022, a new Master Gardener joined the heavenly horticulturists to tend Heaven's Gardens.  Damien Rose McDonald Dougherty passed peacefully at her home in the Target Range area surrounded by her beautiful flowers, birds, squirrels and trees.

Damien was born October 25, 1914, in Butte, Montana to Mary Louise and Larry J. McDonald.  The family moved to Missoula where she attended St. Anthony's Grade School and Sacred Heart Academy.  Inspired by care provided during her father's long term recovery from a gas explosion as well as her namesake, Father Damien, she graduated from Missoula's St. Patrick's School of Nursing in 1962.

She was preceded in death by her baby boy, John, sister, Susan McDonald Hedberg, brother, Terrence L. McDonald and love of her life, Charles Dougherty.  Survivors include her sister, Timothea McDonald Burmood; daughters Carina Dougherty, Shannon Dougherty, Shawn Dougherty and grandchildren, Jacob Matteson  Dougherty, Braydon and Madison Luikart, and nieces and nephew.

The majority of her nursing career was spent in the Seattle, Washington area, working at Providence Hospital and Valley Medical Center.  She always worked nights so she could be home to send their daughters off to school and be home when they returned.  She worked hard and selflessly to provide for her family and care for others. She was an active and long term parishioner of St. Barbara's Church in Black Diamond and despite major losses, her faith in God only deepened.

Day moved back to Montana but not to retire or rest.  She soon joined Partners Home Health and Hospice, nursing patients and supporting their families, first in Eureka and Libby.  Family was everything to Day and she later moved back to Missoula to continue to care for patients as well as much loved family members.  So many people were grateful for her faith and compassion to help them to pass peacefully and when they needed someone to be strong when they no longer had strength.  Day was always an incredible advocate for her patients and those disadvantaged because of social injustice.  She was inspirational in her commitment to leave the world a better and more beautiful place.

Always ready for an adventure, Damien loved life.  She traveled close and far with friends and family.  Cruising with her daughters to sunny coasts, visiting over a salty margarita or Corona, exploring Europe with her best friend Linda Novotny, floating the Blackfoot River on inner tubes with "the gals", always in awe of the beauty God provided even when her tube went flat.  Day loved camping and fishing, but never so much as when her grandchildren came along.  She introduced them to nature, and forest elves that managed to invade Grandma's house. Little treasures would await the grandchildren's next visit to Nana's house.

Damien was an avid volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, the Missoula Food Bank, Missoula Interfaith Collaborative and many more.  No task was too great for the tiny gal with a huge heart.  Her boundless energy and positive attitude were contagious, "come on, we can make one more run down the river, down the mountain, another truck load of firewood, one more room painted."

She was passionate about gardening and loved spending her time making it more lush.  Her love of wildlife and birds was evident with numerous feeders and baths and God help the predator hawk that threatened birds under her care!

A Celebration of Life will be held this summer at the Fort Missoula Pavilion with ice cream and coffee as was Damien's wish.

Damien's legacy may be honored and continued should you wish to make a donation to The Missoula Food Bank or Habitat for Humanity.  She will likely have her beautiful smile in heaven if you choose to add a bird feeder or special plant to your yard.