Dorothy Don (Logan) Cross

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Dorothy Don (Logan) Cross, a loving mother, wife, and friend, who passed away on March 5th, 2025, in West Vancouver, B.C., after an 8-year journey with Supra Nuclear Palsy (Parkinson’s Plus Disease). Dorothy always maintained her love and appreciation of family and friends, and expressed gratitude for a life full of wonderful and varied experiences. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Her life can best be encapsulated by five words: Family, Friends, Art, Food and Travel. And in her 78 years she experienced an abundance of each.

Dorothy was born on January 22nd, 1947 in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. Throughout her early years she experienced close relationships with her various cousins and made numerous lifelong friendships. She enjoyed figure skating and summers at her family cottage on York Lake, where her love of water including water skiing and synchronized swimming was ignited. This led to her first jobs as a lifeguard at the local swimming hole and as an ice-skating instructor. She went on to attend university in both Winnipeg for Interior Design and later Saskatoon where she obtained a certificate as a Legal Secretary.

She met Norman Cross, a young RCMP officer, in 1966 and much to the shock of her family, was engaged only two weeks later. In 1968, they married, and 1970 had their first child, Barry Norman. They moved from Yorkton to Regina, Saskatchewan, and soon had their second child, Kendall Dawn in 1972. Six months later, Norm, now an RCMP pilot, was transferred to Baffin Island. They packed up their babies and their belongings and set out on an adventure – Norm flying throughout the north and Dorothy thankful for a swimming pool and local library. Long friendships were formed with other RCMP couples, helping them to survive the long, dark cold winter. In 1975, Norm was once again transferred. This time to Kamloops, B.C. It was here that they remained until 1989 when Norm’s commercial development business demanded they move to Vancouver. They spent a few years in Burnaby and finally settled in West Vancouver. In 2005, Norm retired and they bought their dream home by the ocean on the Sunshine Coast.

During her early years in Kamloops, Dorothy worked as a swimming instructor. She then continued her education obtaining a diploma in Drafting and Design from Cariboo College. From here she dabbled in Commercial Design working for a few local developers, and later, Restaurant Management, managing the local McCracken Pub owned by her and Norm for 2 years. However, it was her love for fiber arts, mainly weaving, that was her true passion. Her knack for colour and design was clear and she spent almost 45 years expanding her artistic skills through her various artistic connections such as her Surface Design Group, Sewing Group, and Spectrum, even becoming the President of the Vancouver Weavers’ Guild for a short time.

Dorothy had a love of adventure and learning throughout her life. From art exhibits and workshops to dinner parties and travel, their schedule was always packed. For the last 35 years, Norm and Dorothy had the privilege of travelling for one month each year. They explored various countries ranging from Europe to South American with some of their final trips including France, New Zealand and China. These undertakings often involved a great deal of pre-planning, and Dorothy’s vast organizational skills and knack for perfection made it all possible.

Dorothy was an incredible cook. She loved to read but especially loved to read cookbooks! With each country they travelled to, she would return, newly inspired and prepare delicious creative dishes to share with family and friends. We knew we were spoiled with her meals and we loved it.

Dorothy’s friendships encompassed all aspects of life, and each was special to her. From her childhood friends, her tight group of Kamloops artists and their husbands who became lifetime travelling partners, her West Van Girl Posse (with French Beret’s ) who rarely missed celebrating a birthday, to her Vancouver and Sunshine Coast Fiber Arts and Sewing community. If she wasn’t travelling or taking workshops with friends, then she would find a continued connection in whatever way she could. Many of these friends shared a similar love of the arts. With their contagious style and unique creative abilities, her art went through many fabulous transformations. She once said if she hadn’t married Norm, she would’ve lived in an artist co-op, and loved it!

Dorothy desired to be as engaged with her grandchildren as possible. From babysitting, sewing for them, attending birthday parties, school performances, to organizing extravagant family vacations. She loved the holidays and always made sure to create lasting traditions for each of them – from Easter to Christmas. She delighted in her grandchildren as much, if not more, than she delighted in raising her own children. When she learned of her disease, she made a small book for each of the grandchildren. She wrote: “I have had a wonderful life. I have made good decisions. One of those is marrying your grandpa. He has been so good to me. Of course, there have been rough patches, but nothing to worry about. He is kind, and thoughtful and I couldn’t have picked a better life partner. My wishes for you are that you have a wonderful life with everything that you want and need. That you are kind to others and those less fortunate than you. That your misfortunes are few (because unfortunate things will happen – that’s life) and above all, that you are happy.”

Dorothy is survived by her husband Norm, children Barry (Tracy) Cross and Kendall (Hans) Bergstrom, and grandchildren, Sophia Grace and Emily Jane (Cross), Pella Westh and Ander Logan (Bergstrom), as well as many friends and extended family members who will miss her dearly. She is predeceased by her sister Bonnie (Lester) Johnson and brother Jim (Jeannie) Logan as well as her parents Lorna Etta (Halpenny) Logan and Donald P. Logan.

We find comfort in knowing that Dorothy’s legacy lives on through the love she shared with us and the memories we will continue to cherish.