Doreen "Red" Ford

1924 - 2022

Mrs. Doreen 'Red' Ford, beloved mother, wife, grandmother, aunt, sister and friend, age 98 years, of Thunder Bay, Ontario, died peacefully in her sleep on the morning of September 8th, 2022, at Hogarth Riverview Manor. She was born on February 16th, 1924, in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, the second oldest of seven children. Since her childhood, she was known as 'Red' thanks to her natural flaming red hair and firecracker personality. Many friends only knew her as Red and often never knew her real name.

In 1943, at 19 years old, she moved to Fort William for a job with Fryer's Studio, as a retouch artist. She had an amazing natural ability with colouring photographs of nature and people, probably painting every baby portrait in Fort William in her years there. Her daughters remember little cotton balls that would get stuck on everything, especially their socks, from Red doing colouring work at home. She later moved on to work for Bruce Cameron's Studio and then to Sooter's Studio, where she stayed until she retired at age 70. She often displayed portraits of her grandchildren in the studio windows, much to their embarrassment. She also worked at the Northwood Zellers and was known as "the candy lady" because she gave all the kids free candy and as she loved it herself, she probably ate as much as she gave away.

In her twenties, Red also worked as a lifeguard at Boulevard Lake, and would tell her daughters many stories from her time there, including the day she saved the life of a little boy. It was around this time in the late forties that she met Reginald while skating at Fort William Gardens. Reg always said that Red skated like the wind and was a better skater than him.

Reg and Red married in 1950 and settled into their first home on Franklin Street, where they welcomed their daughters Susan, Deb and Jill. Red would faithfully take her girls to Chippewa Park on the weekends, walking to the loop to catch the bus. It was here that she taught them to swim, as she was adamant that they learn because she loved the water so much. Reg passed away in 1976, leaving Red to run the house on her own, with Jill still at home and she did a great job.

Red never got her driver's license and for all of her life, she walked miles a day to work and home. She was very athletic her entire life. She was a speed skater in her teens but it was her love of water that stayed with her throughout her life, swimming at the Complex until well into her eighties. She remained the most beautiful swimmer and always enjoyed the water no matter where she was. She loved sports and was a diehard curling fan, cheered for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and of course loved watching her grandson play in the NHL.

Almost every summer, Red would go with the girls to Moose Jaw on the train to visit with her family. She loved to travel, especially to Hawaii and Portugal, but her trips back home and out west to visit family were the most special to her. She often traveled all over the country on the greyhound bus with her sisters, twins Beth and Bell and went to many different cities to watch her grandson play hockey. In her later years, she enjoyed going on the bus to Grand Portage with her many friends.

Red was very well known for saying her favourite expression, "Judas Priest". She also loved to motion with her finger for someone to come closer to her, saying "Come into my office." Red detested bugs and flies, often calling on others to come and get rid of the "beasts" for her.

Red was a diva until the end, with her lotions, creams and the dab of vaseline she kept on her cheek at night so she had it handy for putting on her lips. At 98 years old, she still had the most beautiful skin and lips. She loved her two hours baths at midnight and her fun eye masks for sleeping that granddaughter Trisha made sure she had a wide selection to choose from. She would often hold onto your hands because hers were always ice cold and she needed to warm them up. Red always looked forward to visiting with her bestie, Trisha and granddaughter, Mallory every Thursday, along with their pet rabbit, Bun Bun, who made Red smile like a little girl. Red loved her family and friends very much, she was so proud of all her grandchildren and great grandchildren and their achievements.

Red is survived by her three daughters, Susan Letowski (George), Deborah Hindle and Jill Ward (Teddy), grandchildren Ryan (Toni), Kelly (Eric), Trevor (Amy), Kristi (Mike), Kylee, Trisha (Evan) and Suzanne (Anthony), and great-grandchildren Riley, Adam, Henry, Mallory, Graci, Mya, Bailey, Emerie and Chloe and countless nieces and nephews. Red was predeceased by her husband Reginald, son-in-law Bruce, her parents Frank & Grace Spiller and her siblings Edith, Fran, Bell, Beth, Merv and Bill.

She was a wonderful mom, gramma and GG. She will be missed.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Cher, her caregiver for many, many years at Manion Court.

Cremation has taken place. A private memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to PRO Kids.

Condolences may be made through
www.nwfainc.com