DORIS OTTER (SCARLET)

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DORIS OTTER (nee SCARLET) 1917 - 2003 Peacefully, in her sleep, Doris passed to her final reward Monday, February 3, 2003 at St. Boniface Hospital. Remaining to honour her memory is her best friend and sister Millie West; her devoted and caring daughter Joan Sutherland (Ian) her grandchildren, Laurel Repski (Brian), Jami Wild (Malcolm), Erl MacKenzie (Tracy), Jodi Sutherland (Paul Crust), Leisa Russell (Clayton), Jennifer Thomson (Ian) and her great-grandchildren in whom she took great delight, Alanna and Garrett Repski; Kiersten, Kaitlin, Kevin and McKenna Wild; Ashleigh and Brendan Thomson. Also her brothers-in-law, Oscar and Bob (Verna) Otter and sister-in-law Connie Scarlet. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Ernie and her precious twin daughters, Pat and Judy, who both succumbed all too early from the ravages of Multiple Sclerosis, as well as sister Margaret McKay and brothers, Clarence, Roy and Leslie Scarlet. Doris, although born in Portage la Prairie, was raised in Amaranth, MB, daughter of the town blacksmith. The values that she learned growing up in a small community, honesty, loyalty, friendship, thrift and the rewards of hard work were the basic principles which guided her throughout her life. Doris and Ernie were married in the spring of 1936 in the middle of hard times of the Depression, a difficult time to begin raising a family, however with grit and determination they survived to share 51 eventful and fulfilling years culminating with Ernies death in 1987. Doris believed that marriage was a lifelong commitment to support your husband along whatever path he chose and it was her duty to accompany him. When Ernie joined the RCAF in 1939 Doris was behind him 100% and so with young daughter Joan in tow followed him to various postings from Yarmouth to Yorkton where twins, Pat and Judy joined the family. At the close of the war Ernie resumed his craft as a carpenter and in his spare time together he and Doris built the family home at 19 Clonard Ave., St. Vital which became the gathering place for family and friends. Doris continued to live there until 2001 then moved to her final residence at Niakwa Towers. Throughout all those years Doris assumed the role of matriarch albeit with a velvet glove. Blessed with an abundance of good old common sense, she was thrifty but never cheap, outspoken but never domineering, unbending in her principles but resilient in facing day to day realities, practical but never unreasonable. She offered her family love and support and in turn was rewarded with love and devotion. Doris had enough "Irish" in her to enjoy a good argument but that same spirit which included generosity ensured that no one was ever turned away at the door for want of a meal or a place to sleep. Following the war, it was only natural for Doris and Ernie to resume friendships by joining the Royal Canadian Legion - St. Vital Branch No. 16. Doris was an active participant in the Ladies Auxiliary, a valued and integral component of any Branch. She undertook many positions within the Branch and Provincial Command ultimately rewarded with a Life Membership. With the cessation of her Auxiliary, she and several fellow comrades then joined the Fort Garry Branch No. 90, where she attended her last meeting this past October. She maintained her Legion membership as a way to remember past friends and to honour the memory of her lifelong partner Ernie where they had shared so many good times. Doris was self-reliant, kept abreast of current affairs, loved any sports but was devoted to baseball and her Blue Jays, bingo was a prized pastime. She often wished she had more formal education, she held no diplomas or degrees, no initials after her name except the ones that counted most, DORIS OTTER - MOM. Friends are invited to join family members at a gathering to honour her memory, Friday, February 7 at 3:00 p.m. at the Dakota Hotel, 1105 St. Marys Rd. Flowers are declined with thanks, donations in her memory can be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Manitoba Chapter or the Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Fund.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 07, 2003