Dorothy Ray passed away peacefully on April 28, 2016 at the age of 96 years, after a long life filled with much love shown to others.
I, Coleen Ray, her oldest daughter, would first like to give my heartfelt gratitude to the people of the Comox Valley who unselfishly loved my mother in her declining years. To the staff at Laurel Lodge who tenderly and compassionately helped in her transition from her Victoria home to the care facility in December of 2007, to the many staff members at Glacier View Lodge, who over the years followed up with sweet understanding, kind words and loving touches, to these people I am eternally grateful. It is with special gratitude, however, that I give thanks to the many volunteers that faithfully came to Glacier View Lodge to better the lives of the residents. Mum particularly enjoyed the church services and the musical entertainment. May God bless you all for your kindness.
Dorothy was born in Vulcan, Alberta. She grew up on a farm where she learned early on to be a dedicated worker. As her mother passed away before she was 10, she was suddenly plunged into much responsibility, along with her older sister, Gladys, and her younger sister Elma. She loved school and enjoyed being a teacher’s helper at the one room country school house, to which she went on horseback.
She would have loved to have been a teacher but she didn’t have the money for college, so she trained as a stenographer. She worked first in Calgary, where she met and married Harold Ray in 1941. During the war she worked for the Secret Service in Ottawa, and was privileged to be one of the first to know when WWII ended.
Mum was very interested in helping others and her community. Over the years she volunteered with the Junior League, raising support for worthy children’s causes. She taught teenagers at Sunday School for many years and they liked to frequent our house for visits.
She spent a number of years as PTA president both at Frank Hobbs Elementary and Gordon Head Junior High. She was a member of the Women’s Electors who petitioned for various causes such as recycling in Victoria. She spent many years teaching through demonstrating, such as kitchen appliances at Woodward’s, and wood-graining techniques at the college. As she didn’t have time for all the requests that came her way she started the Demonstrator’s Guild of Victoria. While doing this, she also built a Metrin skin care business, of which she still has customers. And during these times, in her early 50’s, she also started the education she had always wanted. She received a B.A. in History from the University of Victoria at the age of 58.
While Mum never really retired she did take time to go on a number of cruises with her husband and relatives and friends and family. She thoroughly enjoyed her travels.
She loved her 2 daughters and proved to be a very generous mother. As Nana she showed lots of interest in her 6 grandchildren and was delighted as each of her 11 great grandchildren came along.
She has now moved on to a better place, to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, after a life well-lived.
Dorothy is predeceased by her husband, Harold, in 2003 and her sister Gladys Nielsen in 2005, and sadly her youngest daughter, Robyn MacSween in 2011.
Dorothy will be lovingly remembered by her daughter, Coleen Ray, and her son-in-law, Dave MacSween; her grandchildren Tanis (Tim) Bradshaw, Tessa (Jim) Stewart, Todd MacSween, Laura (Don) Johnston, Peter Beck (Emily Todd) and Kyle (Karen) Beck; her 11 great grandchildren; her sister Elma Ireton, as well as nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Dorothy’s family will celebrate her life privately at a later date. Please join us in remembering Dorothy by visiting our memorial at www.piercysmtwashingtonfuneral.com.