Doreen LITTLE

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LITTLE: Doreen Betty (Grimshaw). It is with deep sadness we announce the passing of Doreen at her home in Carberry on April 12, 2011. Doreen was born on December 10, 1941 in Brandon. As a child she was always full of energy and getting into mischief at any possible chance. Her parents Jim and Betty Grimshaw decided the girls should have a pony, hence began a lifetime of horses and ponies in our lives. She loved sleigh rides in the winter with her dad and the neighborhood kids on the little red flat bottom sleigh. Her summers were spent traveling around the province with her family showing ponies at the local fairs and participating in the Brandon Winter and Summer Fairs. She graduated to the big horses and took so much pleasure in showing. Doreen was a member of various horse clubs, including the Brandon Light Horse and Pony Society, Brandon Gymkhana and Rodeo Association, Manitoba Gymkhana and Rodeo Association, and the American Quarter Horse Association. Doreen met her lifelong partner Russell Little in the early sixties. They were wed April 17, 1964. Their daughter Sherry Lee was born January 3, 1967. Keeping up the tradition of horses and showing was passed onto Sherry. Doreen enjoyed once again traveling to fairs and watching her daughter in the show rings. On September 21, 1994 her first grandson Nicholas arrived. Her second grandson Brenden arrived on February 26, 1997. Doreen took to being a grandmother the same way she did as a mother, so caring and loving and looking out for them at all times. She loved them dearly. Doreen was an outdoor person. Her love of all animals was immense. After moving to Carberry one of her biggest joys was watching her family of deer come into the yard each evening to feed around the bird feeder, which was also kept full all year round. If you did find her in the house she would be busy baking goodies in case someone stopped in. If you were fortunate enough to stop in at meal time you would be guaranteed one of the best meals you had ever ate. As the years passed by Doreen developed severe arthritis in her hip. Again her “true grit” and determination kicked in. With the purchase of a scooter and ATV she was away again. The scooter for her shopping and lunch dates with family and friends in town and the ATV for getting out and around the yard as well as her adventure trails in the bush. Doreen was the character of the family. She was the one that kept things going with her teasing and little smart cracks. She loved a good time with family and friends. She endured many physical hardships and handled them with the strongest courage and determination not to give in to them. She was an amazing lady. She stayed with us for almost a year after being diagnosed with her cancer. This was three times as long as the doctors had given her and we thank her for having the courage to fight to stay with us. Her wish to remain at home was realized through the dedication of her husband Russell for providing her with such good care - Bless him. We can take comfort in knowing that she is free of all her pain and re-united with Mom and Dad. Doreen is survived by her husband Russell Little, daughter Sherry and grandsons Nicholas and Brenden Howard, sisters Gail Miller (George), Debbie Quintaine (Jim), mother-in-law Alice Little, sisters-in-law Betty Johnson (Frank), Arlene Sloan (Wayne), Brenda Boisvert (Rick), brothers-in-law Doug Little (Toby), Roy Little, Bruce Little (Emily), numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Doreen may be made to the Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation, “Western Manitoba CancerCare Project”, 150 McTavish Avenue East, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 2B3 or to a charity of choice.“A come and go tea will be held to celebrate Doreen and her mother on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 8, 2011 at the Shady Lane Tea House from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome to come and share the many memories that we all have.”

As published in Brandon Sun on Apr 23, 2011