Doris Gladding

It is with sadness that the family of Doris Gladding announce her peaceful passing on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at Stratford General Hospital.
She was born in Stratford on April 26, 1928, the youngest daughter of William Taylor and Louisa (Shaw) and was the last surviving member of her family.
She attended Anne Hathaway and Shakespeare Public Schools in Stratford and later Stratford Central High School. At an early age, in her home city of Stratford, she volunteered with a neighbourhood group called "The Happy Helpers" who raised money for the Salvation Army. In her teenage years she worked at "The Very Best Bakery" and during the war years at Swifts Packers where she cleaned chickens and packed butter for soldiers' rations.
Doris "Doll" married C. Robert Gladding on October 1, 1949. He predeceased her on March 6, 2012.
The couple moved to Tavistock in 1952. Here she became a life member of the Tavistock Women's Institute, taught Sunday School at Trinity Lutheran Church, Sebastopol, and later served as secretary of the Grace United Church Board. She helped to coach minor ball and was a leader for the Tavistock Cub Pack for some 15 years. She was a charter member of the Tavistock Home and School Association; treasurer and member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Tavistock Branch 518; a member of the Tavistock Agricultural Society (past president of the Homecraft Division,) a member of the Tavistock Horticultural Society, charter chair of the World Crokinole Championship Committee, and secretary of the Tavistock Royals Senior "AA" Hockey Club for 6 years.
Politically, Doris was elected to East Zorra-Tavistock Council for 1981-82 and 1989-2000. She served on various committees including the Tavistock Recreation Committee for over 10 years as well as being a member of the Tavistock Arena Building Committee.
She and her husband, Bob, were owners/operators of The Tavistock Gazette from 1969 to 1988.
Doris was an accomplished seamstress and enjoyed knitting and bird watching. She loved watching her sons play hockey and continued to be an avid hockey fan and a fixture at the Braves' and Royals' games prior to the pandemic.
She is survived by her four sons, Bob (Muriel), Bill (Sheri), Ted (Debbie) and Bryn (Terry); grandchildren Jonathan Percy-Brother; Luke (Deanne) Gladding, Lesli (Adam) Spylo, Codie Gladding, Brittany (Steve) Gladding, Myles Gomes; Leif Gladding and Evyn Gladding; great grandchildren Clara and Jacob Gladding; Alarik and Augustus Spylo; Landen, Blake and Sloan Douglas. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Connie (Harry) Taylor and many other Taylor and Gladding nieces and nephews and their families.
She was predeceased by her sister Louisa (Jack) Evans; brothers Bill (Isabel, Gwen) Taylor, Jack (Marion) Taylor and Harry Taylor; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Walter and Florence Gladding, Cynthia and Bruce Taylor, Dorothy and Jim Heysel, and Shirley and Jim Uniac.
Cremation has taken place. Upon her request there will be no visitation.
A private family graveside service was held in Avondale Cemetery, Stratford. As expressions of sympathy memorial donations may be made to Royal Canadian Legion Branch 518 Tavistock, or Tavistock and District Minor Hockey Association. Funeral arrangements entrusted to the W. G. Young Funeral, 430 Huron St, Stratford. www.wgyoungfuneralhome.com