Mary Plank-Doherty

Mary Plank-Doherty, age 76, long-time Greenville business woman, passed away Tuesday afternoon, July 3, 2012 with her family at her side at Spectrum Health-United Hospital in Greenville. The daughter of Charles L. & Marie A. (Nadeau) Walkington, she was born on September 7, 1935 in Greenville. Mary began her career as a 17 year old co-op student at Kemp Insurance Sure Agency in downtown Greenville and made it her life-long profession. She eventually was given the opportunity to become a part-owner in the agency and served as corporate secretary-treasurer. Her career with the Kemp family, whom she loved and considered part of her family, lasted nearly 60 years. A proud graduate of Greenville High School, class of 1953, her high school friends remained her best friends throughout her life. For over 30 years she served as an officer of the Greenville Alumni Association and as association president in 1983. Mary loved the community of Greenville and served on numerous boards and committees for the advancement of the city and community. She received many awards for her years of service but none meant more to her than receiving the award named after her mentor the Marian Kemp Award. What she did behind the scenes perhaps better defines who she was as she helped many elderly and less advantaged people take care of their personal affairs as well as making sure they had the necessities of life. She was preceded in death by a son, John Daniel Danny Plank, Jr. in February of 1983; her father, Charles L. Walkington on March 3, 1990; her husband, John Daniel Dan Plank, Sr. on November 6, 2002; her mother, Marie A. Walkington on February 21, 2008; a daughter, Tina Marie Plank on September 22, 2011; and a daughter-in-law, Patty Guagliardo in May of 2006. Surviving are her husband, James Doherty of Greenville and San Diego, California; two daughters, Carol Plank of Missoula, Montana, and Molly Plank-Runkel & Dave Runkel of Milan; a son, Kirke & Elaine Plank of Janesville, Wisconsin; a step-daughter, Deena & Jonathan Eskenas; a sister Judy & Dan Adams-Freeman of Springfield, Virginia; and a brother, Fred & Jane Walkington of Wellston. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Ame Cameron, Emily & Daniel Runkel, Bill & Katsuko Hodgkinson, Jill Evenson, Wade & Kristin Hodgkinson, Justin Happ, Garrett Happ, Ryan Rodas, Kaytlyn & Connor Wilson, as well as many great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Visitation is Thursday evening from 6-8 p.m. at the Christiansen Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 511 S. Franklin Street, Greenville. The Mass of Christian Burial for Mary will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 6, 2012 at St. Charles Catholic Church, Greenville, with the Rev. Father Michael F. Cilibraise presiding. Immediately following the funeral Mass, relatives and friends are invited to a celebration of Marys life at Candlestone Inn in Belding. A family committal ceremony will take place privately at Rest Haven Memory Gardens. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mary Plank-Doherty, please visit our flower store.