Honoured by Norma O’Hare.
Doris was born Doris Annie Riddell on August 6, 1915 in Milles Isles, Quebec daughter of the Post Master James Riddell and Margaret McCullough. Ivan was born David Ivan Archibald Watson on March 27, 1911 on a farm in Calvin Township, Eau Claire, Ontario son of Henry and Margaret Watson. They met after Doris’ family moved to Rutherglen, Ontario and began their life as husband and wife on July 17, 1935 in a wedding ceremony in Magnetawan, Ontario. Their family consisted of 3 sons and 3 daughters.
While living on the family farm in Eau Claire, Ivan worked in the lumber business and eventually on the Trans Canada Highway. After moving to North Bay for Ivan’s employment as Maintenance Welder at the North Bay Psychiatric Hospital, they built their family home on Besserer Road. Eventually Doris gained employment at the Psychiatric Hospital and they worked together for 20 years.
Ivan retired in March 1976 with Doris retiring shortly after to begin their next stage in their life – world travellers which took them to Canada’s east and west coasts, Alaska, Hawaii, several American states, Jerusalem, Austria, Ireland and as Snowbirds in Dade City, Florida from October to April for 23 seasons.
Ivan was a member of the Masonic Lodge #405 Mattawa and #617 North Bay and a member of the North Bay Rorab Shrine Club. Doris was a member of the Eastern Star, the Ladies Oriental Shrine of North America and the United Church Women. They both volunteered for Meals on Wheels and were avid gardeners and card players. Doris was an exceptional seamstress and Ivan enjoyed golfing that he took up at the age of 65.
Ivan and Doris were proud grandparents to 17 grandchildren, 34 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren.
They lived together for 64 years and 6 months with a strong bond of unconditional love and respect for each other and family until Ivan succumbed to cancer on March 25, 2000 – 2 days prior to his 89th year.Doris, with her zest for life, lived another 11½ years passing away on December 29, 2011 at the age of 96.
Those whom we love go out of sight,
But never out of mind;
They are cherished in the hearts
Of those they left behind,
Loving and kind in all their ways,
Upright and just in all their days.
Sincere and true in heart and mind,
Beautiful memories they left behind