Cleopatra Sophia Doherty

Cleopatra Sophia Doherty 11/21/1925 - 03/23/2025 Daughter of Finnish immigrants Elli (Wainikainen) and Emil Edward Toppila-Carlson. She was born in Hollywood, CA. She was very proud of her Finnish heritage. Cleo passed away in Prescott, AZ after a very short illness. All her children were by her side when she passed into the arms of Jesus. She lived a long beautiful life. Her doctors often asked her what her secret was to be so healthy and bright. She would tell them “I love life, and I want to live.” In her youth she enjoyed being an usherette at popular movie theaters in Hollywood. She loved wearing the costumes for the premiere movies that were featured. With her grace and beauty, she was often mistaken as a movie star. She loved all the glitz and glamour, especially meeting movie stars. Watching the Academy Awards every year was something she always looked forward to with all the thrill and excitement. She met the love of her life, Richard Doherty in Manhattan Beach, CA while she and her best friend were playfully pretending to be hitchhiking to the beach. Richie stopped, picked up the girls, asked for her phone number and which she wrote on the cast on his broken arm. The rest is history! She was Richie's biggest fan and loved riding on the back of his motorcycles. She was the start and finish flag girl at all of his car races and loved every second of it. Their love affair began at age 15 and continued to last a lifetime. Cleo loved the beach where she spent most of her time, including her school spring breaks in Balboa. She was so happy to see all of her children follow her love of the ocean. She and dad moved to Prescott, AZ in 1977. Their nephew Jim Thomas was a real estate broker in Prescott and sold them the first two lots in Yavapai Hills. While building their home, they also built and opened The Inn Cocktail Lounge in Ponderosa Plaza. Cleo was born to become a mother, a role that she did selflessly with such dedication and love. She was so proud to be the mother of their five sons and three daughters. We spent all of our summers at the beaches from Seal Beach to Balboa surfing and playing in the water, which became home to most of us in our adult lives. All 8 children were raised Catholic, and she volunteered at many of the church functions. She was preceded in death by husband Richie and son Steve. She is survived by her 7 children Kathy, Tom (Vicki), Dan (Kim), Jim (Robin), Reenie (Brent), Rick, Connie (Kern). 15 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and one on the way. There will be a private memorial in November on her 100th birthday at her favorite place, Newport Beach, CA. Our family would like to take the time to thank Jill Jackson and Butch Hampton for their never ending love and support of the Doherty family. Also, ICU nurse Rayah at YRMC west for making our family feel so comfortable during a very difficult life. We will never forget you.

Cleopatra Sophia Doherty

November 21, 1925 - March 23, 2025