Thomas Barry Daugherty

Thomas Barry Daugherty, 75, Amboy, Indiana, passed away on Wednesday morning, June 18, 2025, at Ascension St. Vincent, Kokomo, Indiana, surrounded by his loving family.

Born October 25, 1949, in Grant County, Indiana, he was the son of Thomas Benjamin and Emily Eleanor (Andrews) Daugherty. He met the love of his life, Jennifer Marie (Weirick) at the Miami County 4H Fair in 1972 and on June 16, 1973, they were married, beginning a fifty-two-year (and two-day) journey together.

Tom graduated from Pennville High School in Blackford County, Indiana in 1967. He went on to complete his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Agriculture Education at Purdue University, and he remained a proud Boiler until his death. For thirty-seven years, Tom taught Agriculture Education at Maconaquah High School and found joy in mentoring students and fellow teachers. As a teacher, he mentored ten agricultural education student teachers, six of whom are still teaching today. He also served as the “voice of the Braves,” announcing all varsity Football and Basketball home games for many years.

After “retiring,” he took on the role of adjunct professor of Agriculture at Ivy Tech Community College in Marion and Kokomo and was named Adjunct of the Year in 2011. He was instrumental in fundraising for a state-of-the-art greenhouse for students at the Marion location, ensuring the next generation of horticulturists will have a place to grow knowledge and skills.

In addition to his many teaching accomplishments, he has distinguished himself through scholarly activities in service to agriculture and natural resources education. In addition to writing curriculum, he cowrote a textbook, Managing Our Natural Resources, now in its 4th edition and used throughout the United States in secondary agricultural education. At the time of his death, he was still writing farm and safety curriculum for Purdue University.

Throughout his life Tom was a fierce advocate for youth, and in Miami County, his service has left an indelible mark. As the recipient of the prestigious Christa McAuliffe Fellowship for Indiana in 1999, he used the fellowship award to establish Together Everyone Accomplishes More (T.E.A.M.) Miami County Youth, where he served as director/principal facilitator for twelve years. He also remained active with the FFA and 4-H youth of Miami County, mentoring a new generation of resource- and agriculturally-minded farmers to help maintain a healthy and productive land. Additionally, Tom was honored with the following awards: Maconaquah Teacher of the Year (1976); Indiana FFA Association’s Distinguished Service Award (1988); Miami County Citizen of the Year (1999); Epsilon Sigma Phi’s statewide Friend of Extension (2000); Miami County Soil & Water Conservation District Outstanding Conservation Teacher (2002 & 2005); Honorary Member, Indiana Association of Ag Educators, Purdue Chapter (2003); Max E. Simon Leadership Award (2005); and the Certificate of Distinction from the Purdue Agricultural Alumni Association (2009).

Tom was an excellent and entertaining speaker, whether in front of a classroom, audience, or the captive congregation of the Santa Fe United Methodist Church, where he had been a pastor for over twenty-seven years. He had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh with his students, family, and friends. Tom also enjoyed spending countless hours in his greenhouse working or teaching others about aquaculture and hydroponics. He proudly walked in the 13.1-mile 500 Festival Mini-Marathon across Indianapolis in several consecutive years.

Survivors include his wife, Jennifer Daugherty, Amboy; his children, Heather Marie (Jeremy) Troyer, Indianapolis; Jeremy Thomas (Lindsey) Daugherty, Peru; Laura Danielle (Brandon) Smyth, Peru; and Keron Makel (Lilly) Hullum, Kokomo; five grandchildren, Isabella Acosta, Josiah Acosta, Urijah Acosta, Cade Troyer, and Addison Troyer; two sisters, Sherry Kneuss, Ossian; Sandy Pruis, Florida; one brother, Chris Daugherty, Battle Ground; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will be from 2:00-8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 24 at the Converse Church of Christ, 301 East Wabash, Converse, Indiana 46919. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at the church, with Pastor Norm Snyder officiating. Burial will be in Ebenezer Cemetery, rural Macy.

Memorial contributions may be made through the funeral home to “Maconaquah FFA” c/o McClain Funeral Home, PO Box 248, Denver, Indiana. Envelopes will be available at the church. Condolences may be sent online at www.mcclainfh.com.

McClain Funeral Home, Denver, Indiana, has been entrusted with arrangements.