Dorothy Stirling Downham died June 30, 2003 at her home in Oak Harbor; she was 88. She was born in Sunderland, England, the youngest of four children, to John (Jack) Stirling and Ethelwyn Hilda Donkin. She was raised in England until she was about four years of age and then came over on a steamer to the United States with her mother. Her two brothers remained in England until later.

Dorothy graduated from Fairhaven High School in Bellingham and notably it was the last class to graduate before the school burned in 1933. Later, She met Alwin (Al) Larson and was married to him in 1938. He predeceased her. In 1950 she married a high school friend Arthur Samuel Downham. During this time, she lived in Portland, Ore., and El Cajon, Calif.

Dorothy was a person who loved to live. She really enjoyed life and was always in tune with everything. She loved to shop, she was always a good sales person and loved walking on the beach to pick up her rock treasures.

Dorothy loved all nature including flowers and animals and loved working in her garden. She loved to ride horses when she was growing up. She loved all animals but especially loved her cat Miss Penny. One of the highlights of her live was her baptism as a Jehovah’s Witness on Sept. 14, 1958.

Dorothy lost her second husband in death in 1981 and then later she moved to Oak Harbor and built her home there to be near her sister Helene and family.

Dorothy is survived by one son, Larrie Fisher, wife Jane and grandchildren Marianne and Phillip of Sacramento, Calif.; by one sister, Helene Fisher of Oak Harbor; by nieces, Loni Kuberka, Jeanne Svien and Vikki Machuga, all of Oak Harbor and one nephew, Allen Fisher, of Tillamook, Ore.

It hurts deeply to lose Dorothy to death, but we are reminded of her love for Jehovah God, who “is healing the brokenhearted ones and binding up their painful spots.” Memorial services were held at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Oak Harbor July 5. Cremation was held with private family inurnment to follow at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Burley Funeral Chapel.