Gary Daugherty

Daugherty died on Sunday 4 October 2026 in Paducah, Kentucky, aged 59, after a long battle with kidney disease, according to his obituary from Milner and Orr Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Paducah. There was no formal service. The family asked that donations in his memory be made to the National Kidney Foundation.

At its regular meeting on Tuesday 13 October 2026, the Kane County Board observed a moment of silence. Board chair Corinne Pierog said he had died way too soon. Maureen Shepro read a eulogy written by her husband, attorney Kenneth Shepro, who described Daugherty as a contrarian who stayed committed to his duties and his friends even when physically confined and dependent on machines.

Gary Scott Daugherty was born on 14 January 1967 and raised in the Chicago suburbs, the son of Hal Daugherty and the late Judy Daugherty. He had a sister, Gail, and remained close to aunts, uncles and cousins, including Trudy and Ron Henrioulle.

At 6 feet 5 inches he was hard to miss. He played as a lineman at Division I Southern Illinois and Colorado, and friends later said his size was matched by a disarming smile and a great laugh. Music, singing, stand-up comedy, motorcycles and firearms were lifelong interests that shaped both his hobbies and his teaching work.

Before and alongside elected office, Daugherty worked as a firearms and motorcycle safety instructor, teaching concealed-carry and related courses, and for a period co-hosted the Polite Society Podcast. In the 2022 county race the Daily Herald listed his occupation as manager of social media and special projects at Parkwood International. He had been involved in politics for more than three decades as a citizen activist, commentator and teacher.

On 5 January 2021 he was appointed to the Illinois House of Representatives for the 66th District after East Dundee Republican Allen Skillicorn resigned following his general election loss to Democrat Suzanne Ness of Crystal Lake. Daugherty served only about a week, through the lame duck session that passed the SAFE-T Act, before Ness took her seat. Friend and former Kane County Republican chairman Kenneth Shepro later recalled those days as three momentous ones on the House floor.

In 2022 Daugherty won election to the Kane County Board representing District 9, a large northwest district spanning many municipalities and unincorporated areas. He sat on committees including County Development, Jobs, Legislative and Transportation, and resigned in December 2025 citing illness. He backed Jennifer Abbatacola as his successor; she was sworn in in February 2026.

Daugherty lived in Gilberts, Illinois, at 17N855 Mary Circle during his board years, and later moved to Paducah, Kentucky, as his health declined. His girlfriend Candy Eldredge stood by him throughout his illness. He is also survived by his father Hal, sister Gail, sister-in-law PJ Johnson, and extended family.

He loved motorcycles and often rode long distances to see stand-up comedians. Teaching others to handle firearms and motorcycles safely was a source of pride: he insisted that owning a gun came with tremendous responsibility. Friends described strong opinions, a curious mind and an impressive store of information delivered with humour.

Daugherty is remembered locally as an independent Kane County Board member who put constituents and local governments in District 9 first, and as a brief but memorable presence in the Illinois House during a consequential lame duck session. His teaching on firearm and motorcycle safety, and his work keeping remote political meetings running during the pandemic, were repeatedly cited by colleagues as lasting contributions.

Shepro's eulogy closed by saying his memory should be a blessing. Online tributes from the firearms and motorcycle communities recalled a larger than life friend who lived on his own terms.