Margaret Carolyn Pearson Daugherty

Margaret Carolyn Pearson Daugherty, 75, of Shawnee, Oklahoma stepped into the presence of her Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ on January 6, 2025. She is survived by her husband, Harold Daugherty, of Shawnee. Harold & Carolyn were married on April 3, 1971, at Oklahoma Avenue Baptist Church in Shawnee and had been married for almost 54 years.

Born December 26, 1949, to Walter and Gertrude Dycus Pearson, Carolyn grew up in Memphis, Tennessee where she graduated from Treadwell High School. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Music Education majoring in Voice, K-12 from Oklahoma Baptist University in 1971. She was a member of the OBU Bisonettes. Carolyn then embarked on a 29-year career as a music teacher and choral director at Tecumseh High School. After retiring from Tecumseh, she was the choir and drama teacher for Bethel Schools for eleven years. She also taught music at Grove School in Shawnee. She also worked for three years at Gordon Cooper Technology Center in Shawnee equipping students to prepare for the workforce. She was beloved wherever she taught or worked by her co-workers and students.

Carolyn was unashamedly a follower of Jesus Christ. She and Harold joined Hilltop Baptist Church in 1982. Carolyn served the Lord at Hilltop Baptist for 43 years. She served as the Minister of Music from 2015-2021 and prepared the Hilltop choir for numerous Christmas and/or Easter musical productions. She was the pianist for many years. Hilltop Baptist would man the Salvation Army Red Kettle for a day each Christmas season with Carolyn ringing the bell and singing carols while she rang. Carolyn served in many capacities and roles at Hilltop Baptist: Sunday School Director, Treasurer, College Sunday School teacher, Falls Creek sponsor many times, hosted with Harold several Hilltop Baptist Block Parties on their street, created the senior adult group called M&M (Mature & Motivated), committees (Hospitality, Nominating, Finance, Youth Pastor Search, and Pastor Search. She served her church with joy and excellence.

From 1971 to 2000 (29 years) Carolyn was a music teacher and choral director at Tecumseh High School. It was here that she had an impact on students’ lives that cannot be measured. She involved students musically and dramatically who never thought they could accomplish something like that. She encouraged students to accomplish their dreams in the arts with some going on to professions in music. While at Tecumseh she directed numerous musicals including, Fiddler on the Roof, Annie Get Your Gun, The Music Man, L’l Abner, Oklahoma, The King and I, The Sound of Music, Oliver, Hello Dolly, Bye Bye

Birdie, The Wizard of Oz, The Princess and the Pea, and Guys and Dolls. She directed students in All-State Competitions, Show Choir, and numerous choir trips including Europe with the All-Oklahoma Show Choir, 1986 to New York City for the 100th Anniversary of the Statue of Liberty where they won first place in the choir contest among choirs from across the United States, Los Angeles, , Memphis, Nashville, Atlanta, Chicago, and a performance on a Norwegian Cruise Lines ship to the Bahamas. Her Facebook page is filled with comments from former students telling of her influence and impact on their lives.

After retiring from Tecumseh, Bethel Schools convinced her to return to teaching as their middle school and high school choir and drama teacher where she taught from 2001-2012. Once again, Carolyn led Bethel School in numerous well produced and directed musicals including Oklahoma, Annie Get Your Gun, The Music Man, Fiddler on the Roof, and Suessical the Musical. She again had a profound influence and impact upon her students at Bethel Schools. She was the consummate encourager, always drawing out the very best from her students.

Carolyn was deeply involved with Shawnee Little Theatre for many years. She performed on stage in numerous productions and served as director and choral director for many productions also. She appeared in the following productions: Little Shop of Horrors (1988), Oliver (1988), The Wizard of Oz (1996), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1998), The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (2009), and Scrooge! (2012). She was the director and musical director for the following productions: Annie Get Your Gun (1990), Plaid Tidings (1998), Forever Plaid (2001), The King and I (2001), and Guys and Dolls (2003). Shawnee Little Theatre said that Carolyn, “helped with costumes on a few shows as well. She taught many students who were cast in our productions and made our stage even brighter due to her guidance and teaching. She was a dear friend to Shawnee Little Theatre.”

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Claude Pearson, and sister, Sandra Pyron. She is survived by her husband, Harold; sons, Carl Williams, and James Daugherty; stepsister, Linda May of Florida; sister-in-law, Carolyn Pearson of Bartlett, Tennessee along with a host of family, friends, and former students who will miss her greatly. A special word of thanks and appreciation to their son, Carl Williams, without whose help Harold and Carolyn could not have made it during the difficult days of Carolyn’s illness. A word of appreciation also to the wonderful members of Hilltop Baptist Church who have walked lovingly and practically through this season with Harold and Carolyn.

A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, January 18th at 2:00 pm at the Tecumseh High School Alumni Center located at 901 N. 13th, Tecumseh, OK 74873.

Memorial gifts may be given to Hilltop Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1803, Shawnee, OK 74802-1803; OBHC (Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children) obhc.org; or The Gideons International gideons.org.