Former Framingham Library Employee Dorothy Paterson Dies at Age 100

Dorothy Rachel Mary (Smith) Paterson, 100, passed away peacefully at home with family at her side last month.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on April 20 at St. Marks Episcopal Church, 426 W. 6th St., Medford, Oregon.

Born, August 15, 1912 to John William and Ethel (Wiper) Smith. A few years later they were blessed with another daughter, Merle Western.

Dorothy (Dolly) graduated from Victoria College in British Columbia, Canada in 1934 with a bachelor's degree in biology.

In 1943 Dolly joined the Women's Royal Canadian Navy Service (Wren) and served as a map plotter for two years.

In June 1947 she married Ian Cunningham Paterson and they adopted two children: son, Robin and daughter, Shelley. Dolly worked as a part-time high school teacher while raising their children.

The family moved from Drummondville, Quebec, Canada to Framingham in 1966.

Shortly after her divorce in 1971, Dolly started working at the Framingham Public Library until she retired in 1982 and moved to Florida.

She never met a stranger and incorporated many friends into her family. She loved to read and travel with her sister and close friends, usually on ocean cruises for which she had a special fondness.

In 2003, due to health reasons, Dolly moved to the Rogue Valley in Oregon to be closer to her children.

She was a woman of strong faith and loved God with all her heart. She was kind, loving, and generous, but when you saw that twinkle or "mama look", laughter or a loving reprimand would soon follow.

She leaves behind her sister, Merle Western Smith (96), W. Vancouver, B.C., Canada; son, Robin Cunningham (Kathy) Paterson, Eagle Point, Ore.; son-in-law Daniel H. (Christine) Bailey, Medford; five grandchildren, Gabriel Ian (Lisa) Paterson, Boylston, Mass., Corey Michael Paterson, Eagle Point, Rachel Jean Ann Paterson (Jason) Rullamas, Grants Pass, Ore., Devon D. Bailey, Portland, Ore., and Audrey M. Paterson, Shady Cove, Ore. Dolly had 10 great-grandchildren: Alyssa, Sara, Shyla, Bailey, Austin, Trenton, Jordan, Mariah, David, and Joe. She leaves behind many extended family and dear friends in Canada, Massachusetts, Florida, and Oregon.

She was predeceased by her daughter, Shelley P. Bailey, of Medford, in February 2009 and granddaughter, Larisa M. Bailey, Klamath Falls, Ore. in January 2013

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the St. Marks food pantry, 541-773-3111.