Florence Doughtery, longtime Green resident, former Green school administrator and long-time member of the Green Board of Education, passed away recently. She had in recent years battled health issues and was a resident of the Greenview Inn.

Florence, as the assistant to Green Superintendent Jim Tays, would evaluate teachers. I remember the first time she came to see me. I was a first year teacher and was a little nervous. She put me at ease with her pleasant manner. The next day I got my typed evaluation and had a good laugh. She mentioned hearing my students whisper that they had to be good because ‘my boss’ was in the room. Nothing slipped by her. I never felt threatened. She made constructive suggestions.

Former board president Bob Docs remembered, “She was a very, very sweet person. She and Jim Tays ran the school district the way it should be run, and the teachers respected her for that. She was always interested in the students."

John Lyons, who served with her on the Green board, said, "Florence was a real treat, she was ‘Mrs. Education.’ The children's education was the most important thing to her. She was always pleasant but if she thought something was wrong she let you know in no uncertain terms. Florence was very upbeat, it was a really a pleasure to serve with her on the board. She was extremely knowledgeable on educational issues. She made sure that she looked over every new text book to make sure it fit the needs of the students and the school curriculum."

Dave McCormick served with her on the board from 1981-1985. “Her inspiration led me to create ‘The Florence Doughtery Teaching Award’ which is still given to a teacher at the Portage Lakes Career Center. She was a dedicated lifetime educator with the Green Local School District. Her wit, charm, and intelligence were of great assistance to me when I served with her on the board. I am sure that she inspired many other's like myself to enter the field of education, and become successful educators just like her. The Green community has truly lost a great person."

"I was truly privileged to serve on the Green board with Florence during the final two years of her 16 on the Board. Her knowledge of curriculum, decades of experience and insights into education were profound. The Green Local school community owes Florence a huge debt of gratitude for her tireless contributions in making our district the success it is today," recalled fellow board member Dr. Al Payne.

She was an avid traveler who crisscrossed the world. In 1939, when Hitler invaded Poland and started World War II, she was in Germany, visiting a friend. She traveled with professors from Akron University across Europe and Asia. In her late 70s she traveled to Antarctica.

Florence was quietly cremated and there was no obituary posted at the time. A memorial service is set for April 26, at Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, on Steese Road at 10 a.m.