Educator and entrepreneur Sharon Doughty died on Nov. 19.

Memorial services were held this week for Sharon Mendoza Tremari Bianchini Doughty, who died on Nov. 19, 2014 at the age of 72.

A native of Marin County, Doughty was born and raised on the Point Reyes peninsula. She went to a one-room-school house on the Historic B ranch for eight years. She graduated from Tomales High School in 1959 as valedictorian, and attended The University of the Pacific graduating in three years in 1963 with degrees in accounting.

After marrying her high school sweetheart, Ed Tremari, in 1963, she settled in Petaluma and taught school at Kenilworth Junior High. Tremari died in an accident in 1967 and later, while still teaching, she was courted by and married Bill Bianchini Jr. a Two Rock dairyman.

The couple moved to a new home on Skillman Lane and became parents of two girls, Kathleen and Karen. They started their own dairy, renting space for a while before purchasing the Grandi Ranch in Point Reyes Station in 1974 from Doughty’s parents. Together they worked to grow and improve the ranch for nine years.

Just as things were going well Bianchini became seriously ill and passed away. Never one to give up on anything, Doughty ran the ranch herself, with guidance from her father Joe Sr. and her two brothers Joe Jr. and Jim and neighbor, Bob Giacomini, also her veterinarian, Bob Fisher.

She became a successful dairywoman and leader in the community and the dairy industry. She served on the board of the Marin Agricultural Land Trust, serving two terms as president.

Doughty was an alternate member of the California Coastal Commission for one term. She was on the board of directors of the Marconi Conference Center in Marshall California.

In 1985, she met Steve Doughty of Napa, they were married in 1987. Together they ran the dairy for twenty-five years. Looking like the future the dairy industry was heading for troubled times, the couple came up with the idea of starting a winery and bed and breakfast. They consulted with Saralee and Richard Kunde, who recommended that Doughty plant Champagne grapes on the ranch. She planted some wine grapes on the ranch, and produced award winning California sparkling wine. Thus was born the Point Reyes Vineyards and that was followed by the Point Reyes Vineyard Inn.

As pioneers in the Marin County wine industry, they opened the first winery and tasting room in Marin County since Prohibition, on their ranch on Highway 1.

Doughty was very passionate about her family heritage. She was the granddaughter of Joseph V. Mendoza, an immigrant from the Azores Islands who worked hard and eventually purchased the historic A and B Ranches on the Point at Point Reyes in the early 1900s. Doughty was raised on the B Ranch. Later in her life, she managed the L ranch dairy in the Point Reyes National Seashore.

In addition to her husband, Steve, she is survived by her daughters Kathleen von Raesfeld of Petaluma and Karen Taylor of Pt. Reyes; grandchildren; brothers Joseph H. Mendoza Jr. and James L. Mendoza; and stepsons Richard Doughty and Steve Morse.

The family prefer memorials be made to Marin Agricultural Land Trust, Tomales Regional History Center or to a favorite charity.