Doris J. Paterson, well-known artist and author, died after a short illness at the Christine Morrison Hospice June 11, 2014. Doris was born in Portsmouth England in 1924. She had been looking forward to her 90th birthday next month. Doris was predeceased by her husband Willy Smith two months ago. Willy was the focus of the popular series of books written by Doris, such as the Willy Stories, in which she wrote with humour and poignancy about her relationship with the “bicycle man.” Doris is survived by ten children (Barbara/George; Brenda/Rex; Scott/Michelle; Patrick/Pauline; Ted/Debbie; Laura/Gregg; Norman Pearce/ Nanette; Mark/Lorna; Joy/Dario; and Paul/Jackie), as well as a brother John Pearce in Australia. Family stories tell that Doris’ talents were a constant source of entertainment when she was growing up. She could always be counted on to cheer her parents and siblings with storytelling, drawing and play acting. She had a natural flair for the dramatic and starred in many school plays in England and Hong Kong. She was also exceptionally beautiful. She won the crown as Queen of Leamington Spa in England when she was 17. She was extremely popular with soldiers and airmen when she volunteered at Warwick Castle as a typist during World War II. She captivated the heart of Ted Paterson, a navigator with the RCAF. In 1946, she immigrated to Canada as a war bride. Doris experienced many challenges in her life. She lost two children, she endured many moves across Canada in Ted’s career in the air force, and she lived with Ted and ten children in houses with only one bathroom. Although she had always “dabbled” in visual art, when she and Ted were divorced in 1982, she moved from Winnipeg to Nanaimo and then later to Mission to develop her artistic talents to their full potential. Doris has received many awards, too numerous to mention here, in acknowledgement of her community service and her artistic ability. She was particularly grateful for receiving the Mission Muse, the Mission Senior Idol, the Mission Woman of the Year, and the Pathfinder awards. She was profoundly appreciative for the support she received in her visual art and her writing from the people of Mission. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Christine Morrison Hospice (c/o Mission Hospice Society Unit E 7311 James St., Mission BC V2V 3V5) in Doris’ memory. A celebration of her life will be held at the Mission Arts Centre Rock Family Gallery June 28, 2014 at 1:00 PM. The event will be in conjunction with the opening of an art show to profile the work of Doris Paterson and Barbara Metz. Friends who wish to leave messages of condolences or recollections of Doris’ life can contribute comments to her obituary found at www.woodlawnfh.mission.com.