Ida Docking

On January 28th, 2022, the world lost a very precious lady with the passing of Ida Rose Docking (nee Milne) at the Atikokan General Hospital with her loving husband Wayne and son Derrick (Rick) by her side.

Born on March 9th, 1938, at the McKellar General Hospital in then Fort William to parents William and Dorothy Milne. She lived the first three years of her life in Upsala, Ontario, Northwest of now Thunder Bay. In 1941, she and her brothers James and William Jr. moved to Fort William with their parents when Bill Sr. got a job at the World War II ammunitions plant located there. They found a home on East Mary St. in the Westfort area and youngest daughter Dorothy (Dot) was born shortly after. Ida attended Francis St. School and Kingsway Park Elementary, later attending Fort William Vocational Secondary School. As an adult she studied accounting by extension from Confederation College.

Even as a child, Ida was socially active. In her youth and teen years, she and her friends pursued all kinds of sporting and recreational activities and of course, parties. That never changed as she did likewise throughout adulthood. She was indeed a social fly as many have called her.

It was Labour Day dance in 1957 at Chippewa Park Pavilion where a young cowboy booted country boy politely asked a super cute pixie like city girl if she would like to dance. She did and they did. A very magical attraction happened that night and a love at first dance experience became a dance that lasted through 65 beautiful years. The city girl rode home that night with country boy, Wayne in his dressed up black Chevy sedan, with wild white flames down both sides. They agreed that night that they wanted to see each other again, and again, and again. The rest is history. Strangely this young couple was seen a few short weeks later in a two-tone green Chevy sedan with nary a flame to be seen. Folks wondered who might have made that change necessary.

In June 1958 Ida and Wayne were married in the First United Church on Brock St. Fort William with a rocking good time reception with over 200 family and friends at the old Italian Hall on Algoma St. Port Arthur. They honey-mooned in the northern U.S. and Manitoba.

Aside from talking time out to raise two sons, Derrick (Rick) born in 1959 and Rodney (Rod) born in 1961, Ida worked most of her life. She started part-time in the office of John Haglund Lumber when she was only 14 years old. After her school years, she worked for Canadian General Electric and briefly with the Fort William Board of Education. After relocating to Atikokan from Chatham Ontario, with high school teaching husband, Wayne, she worked for the T. Eaton store and Quetico Tackle as an Accountant/Bookkeeper. She was asked to join the staff at the Atikokan Medical Clinic in the 1980’s and retired from there in 1998, having served for years as Clinic Manager.

In her retirement she joined her also retired husband in his capacity as Sales Rep for Souris River Canoes in Atikokan. She worked sales booths on the annual sports show circuit in Canada and the US and also travelled with Wayne on sales and delivery trips throughout the annual canoe delivery season from early spring to early fall. She could be found in a truck hobnobbing with trucker chicks in the Us interstate truck stops. It was long hours on the road and many thousands of miles in a season but she stuck it out for 18 years and loved every minute of it.

To Energizer Bunny, Ida, boredom was simply a word in the dictionary. She had so many hobbies and activities she pursued with passion that she could never cram them all in. She and Wayne travelled extensively all their married lives and visited every state, every province and virtually every major city in North America, most islands in the Caribbean, and most tourist centers in Mexico and two South American countries.

Unfortunately, that life well lived came to an end on January 28th, a very sad day for us all as everyone who ever knew her loved her dearly. Surviving are husband Wayne, son Derrick, brother Jim Milne (Jane) and sister Dorothy Ten Have (John) and brother-in-law Darrell in Texas. Also surviving are granddaughters Dayle Pettigrew (Carl), Tori Alexander (James), Michelle Asselin and Tessa Rogers, grandsons Travis Alexander (Briana), Ryan Alexander (Miranda), Cliff Docking and Malcom Rogers. There are 6 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews as well as several much-loved extended family members surviving as well. She was predeceased by parents William and Dorothy Milne, parental-in-laws Murray and Gertie Docking as well as brother Bill Milne and sisters-in-law Carol Nymark and Marlene Gammond. She lost son Rodney in 1991.

Ida’s family would like to acknowledge the truly exceptional care she received through her battle with cancer. Atikokan is hugely blessed to have healthcare ranking far beyond that which one would be expected to find in any community of Atikokan’s size and locale. Special thanks to Dr. Melanie Rodriques, Nurse Practioner Nikita Matichuk and all the nursing staff at Atikokan General who held our hands and guided Ida and family through a most difficult time. God Bless you all.

As per Ida’s wishes and prevailing mandates, there will be no formal funeral held. Cremation has taken place and it is hoped to have a Celebration of Life sometime in June. A family graveside service at Mountainview Cemetery in Thunder Bay will follow at a later date.
In Lieu of Flowers you may make a donation to the Atikokan Hospital or Riverside United Church, if you wish.