October 17, 1924 - April 16, 2021
Doris May Steadman was born October 17, 1924, in Bering, Saskatchewan, the second child and oldest daughter of John Steadman and Jessie May Cooper.
She passed peacefully April 16, 2021, aged 96 years, in Comox, B.C., with her daughter by her side.
One of 11 siblings, Doris is predeceased by her parents; husband Albert "Al" Rex Martin; brothers Aubrey, Everd "Buddy", Perry, Elwood "Woody" and Wesley; as well as sisters Aletha "Lee", Elizabeth "Beth" and Winnifred "Win".
She is survived by brothers Wayne (Margie) and Mervyn; sister-in-law Joan; children Gloria and Larry (Loraine); grandchildren Nadine (Dean), Gina (Greg), Cory and Avery; and her much loved great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Doris was smart, hard-working and generous, giving support in many ways to her family. Being the oldest daughter, Doris had many responsibilities for her younger siblings.
She was an avid reader; very proud of the day she could take books from the library. As a teen, sometimes she perched high in the branches of a tree, so she wouldn't be disturbed while reading.
Doris left school in Grade 10, took secretarial training, and subsequently worked as a secretary. In 1945, she married Al, welcoming daughter Gloria in 1946 and son Larry in 1948.
When Gloria was in Grade 12, Doris took two weeks' vacation, sat the provincial exams, aced them and achieved her high school graduation certificate in the same year as her daughter, who remains immensely proud of her mom for that.
Doris went on, after training, to teach for ten years at the secondary level. Doris was an excellent seamstress and a wonderful cook. She enjoyed gardening, canning, and preserving. She volunteered in 4-H and as bookkeeper to local service clubs.
Over the years, she and Al enjoyed puzzles, camping trips and travels in their RV. Doris enjoyed being a "Soropti-mom" while her daughter was a member of Courtenay Soroptimist.
She enjoyed some happy years living with her daughter before moving to The Views at St.Joseph's. We cannot adequately express our gratitude to the skilled and compassionate carers at Oceanview and to the kind and wise Dr. Jennifer Cortez. Doris will be missed.