Dorinne Mavis Denton
Dorinne Mavis Denton (Koots) died March 13, 2012, after a battle with pancreatic cancer. She is remembered as a wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who unfailingly supported her family through both good times and bad.
Dorinne was born in Sylvan Lake, Alta. She attended Hollingshead Business College of Alberta in 1952. From 1953-1955 she covered the Prairie provinces, direct selling for Grolier Co. of Vancouver, as well as Book of Knowledge encylopedia. After marrying John Denton from Vancouver she stayed home to attend to her responsibilities as homemaker and mother from 1956 to 1961. Dorinne worked for the Haney Gazette before the family moved to Australia in 1963, where she helped John with his franchise business. The Dentons returned to Canada in 1966 and in 1973 she took the receptionist course at Vancouver Tech. Following that, she helped run Denton Farms Equestrian for more than 30 years.
Dorinne was somewhat of a surrogate mother to the many ‘horsey’ girls and boys who had the privilege of visiting her homes in Southlands in Vancouver and later on Saltspring Island. A consummate hostess, she was always quick to offer coffee, goodies and cheerful counsel. Dorinne and John were heavily involved in the equestrian community in Maple Ridge, Vancouver, Langley and latterly Saltspring Island. They were among the early proponents of developing a homegrown sport horse industry and their broodmares produced many fine competition horses.
She is survived by daughters Laura (David Schmidt) and Lynne (Mark Hughes), grandchildren Robert Cable (Doris) and Patricia Denton, great-grandchildren Lance, Maximo and Roxanna, sister Bonnie, sister-in-law Norma, nieces, a nephew and special longtime friend Desmond Champion, as well as her beloved dog Oreo.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Lady Minto Hospital Foundation (palliative care), where Dorinne received such compassionate and loving care in her last days. Special thanks also to Dr. David Woodley, Dr. Crossland, Sue Banks and the Saltspring Ambulance Service.