Edwin Justice (Ed) Doughty, Jr.

born November 10, 1926, died peacefully at his home in Matunuck on Thursday, December 10.  He was the beloved husband of the late Mary T. Doughty (10-19-2019) for 69 years.  Born in Providence, Rhode Island, he was the son and only child of the late Edwin Doughty Sr., and Elsie Wood Doughty.  Ed was born at home on Devonshire Street in Providence.  He spent his youth living between Providence and Hamilton Beach in North Kingstown, where his parents owned a home by Narragansett bay, which came to be known as “Ed’s Beach.”  He joined the Navy in 1944 and celebrated his 18th birthday in China.  He was aboard the USS Mellena (AKA 32), he was the ship’s helmsman when it passed through the Panama Canal, and was in the action in the South Pacific and Philippine Liberation.

Ed attended Mount Pleasant High School in Providence before joining the Navy, and graduated from Central High School after returning from World War II.  Ed and Mary had three daughters, Candace (Donald) Marge of Wakefield, Cynthia (Brian) Fandetti of Matunuck, and Christi (Robert) Saurette of West Kingston.  Edwin was blessed with seven grandchildren; Graham (Mary) Parker, Alex Fandetti, Sasha (Kevin) Birch, Sonja (Brendan) Marge-Barrows, Staesha (Keith) Hendershot, and Zoe and Dylan Saurette, as well as eight great grandchildren, three nieces and one nephew.

Ed was devoted to his wife and family and had a strong work ethic.  Over the years while running a small bait and boat business known as Ed’s Boat Station, he worked in construction for Gilbane and on several fishing boats out of Galilee.  He received his Captain’s license and captained a private yacht as well as a freezer boat for Harbor Shellfish, and was a high producing sales representative for Melroe Bobcat Company.  After retiring, Ed and his wife spent their winters in Florida with their many friends.  Ed enjoyed boating, traveling with his wife, family and friends, puttering in his daughter’s garage building, painting and refinishing furniture for them, helping his sons-in-law with remodeling projects, reading, watching a good Western, and spending time with his three girls, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who called him “Papa.”  Ed was a member of the Mount Vernon Masonic Lodge Number 4 for 71 years, and a Rhode Island Shriner and member of The Legion of Honor for over 50 years.  Ed was a kind and intelligent man who was dearly loved by his family and will be remembered fondly and missed deeply by everyone who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to the Jonnycake Center for Hope, 1231 Kingstown Road, Peace Dale, RI, 02879.  A celebration of Ed’s life will be held in the summer of 2021.