Doris Erratt

A lifetime resident of the area, Doris Erratt passed away at the Winchester District Memorial Hospital on Sat., March 20, 2010. She was 82.
Doris was born in Winchester on Oct. 16, 1927 to her parents, William and Ruth (nee Durant) Simser, and she grew up in the Hallville area with her siblings. She attended one of the first continuation schools in the area, and subsequently became a schoolteacher. She taught in area schools, even after she met and married Gerald Erratt on Aug. 16, 1952, and together they had two children, Brian and Cheryl.
For most of their family life, Doris, Gerald, and their children lived in the family home, which had been moved from Anchor Bay, east of Aultsville, to Riverside Heights during the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway. While her family kept her busy, Doris was also active in the community as a founding member of the Women's Institute, and as a community volunteer at the Riverside Heights Recreation Centre, where she was the keeper of the key, and the bingo leader. In later years, Doris was a Meals on Wheels provider, and enjoyed entertaining people with her musical abilities on the harmonica.
She loved travelling and seeing new places, and getting to know more people. Before marriage she travelled to the west coast, and with Gerald, she enjoyed travelling to Florida. She enjoyed many camping trips with the family. She also enjoyed the trips she took with her friends in the Women's Institute. Doris and Gerald were heavily involved with the Morrisburg Horticultural society, and they produced many winning flowers from their gardens. Both Gerald and Doris's efforts were recognized by his inclusion in the mural, and her in the plaque erected at the Riverside Heights Recreation Centre.
Doris is survived by her son, Brian (Kim) of Riverside Heights, her son-in-law, Lorne Sowden of Ottawa, her sister, Lorna (Gene) Benware of St. Petersburg, FLA, and her sisters-in-law, Blanche Fulton of Hulbert, Grace Erratt of Winchester, and Marilyn Simser of Bowmanville. She will be fondly remembered by granddaughters Haley and Sara who she was particularly proud of. She was predeceased by her husband, Gerald, her daughter, Cheryl Sowden, her brothers, Ray and Charlie, brothers-in-law Morley Erratt, Graham Wells, and Jim Fulton, and sisters-in-law Bev Simser and Evelyn Wells. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Friends called at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home in Williamsburg on Fri., March 26. The funeral service was held at the funeral home on Sat., March 27 with Rev. Arlyce Schiebout officiating. The pallbearers were Lorne Sowden, Gene Benware, Keith Robinson, Lyal Kehoe, Alan Crowder, and Don Garlough. Interment will be held in the spring at Fairview Cemetery in Mariatown.
Donations to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind or the Ottawa Cancer Research Centre would be appreciated by the family.