Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 at 09:08:37 :
Marin Independent Journal
Thursday, February 18, 1999
B-2
Joanne “Happy” M. Orton, of Novato, passed away February 8, 1999. Happy was born in Menlo Park on May 23, 1931 to Carl “Fritz” Frederick Guthertz Orton, a member of the Lincoln Brigade, and Margaret “Peggy” Eleanor Todervey Lee, a Stanford graduate. She graduated from Galileo High School in San Francisco in 1948 and recently attended her 50th Reunion where she renewed many longtime friendships.
Happy married and had three children, Julian Johnson, Nancy Turner and Teren La__ (illegible), and dearly loved her grandchildren, Kyle, Colin, BethAnne, Tanya and Thea.
For 27 years, she managed a dental office for John T. Smith, DDS and all of his wonderful patients in San Anselmo. Happy was a practicing member and sponsor of Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon and Smokers Anonymous. Through her growth in her Al-Anon program, she was able to meet and develop a deeply loving relationship with her soul mate, Don Ray. Ironically, before they married, Don was killed by a drunk driver in 1986.
Happy became so open to growth and learning that she studied 3 1/2 years to become a prayer practitioner of the Golden Gate Church of Religious Science.
The onset of lung cancer six years after she quit smoking encouraged her affiliation with the Center for Attitudinal Healing where she developed special friendships and further expanded her spirituality. Up until her health began to fail, her greatest loves were hiking in the hills of the Marin Municipal Water District and being in service to Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon, The Center of Attitudinal Healing and the Golden Gate Center for Spiritual Living.
She grew into a demonstration of her name, Happy, through her participation in all of these recovery and spiritual programs and that is why we all love her so much.
Friends are invited to attend a celebration of her life on Saturday, February 20 at 11:00 a.m. at the Chapel of the Hills, San Anselmo.
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