So sorry that Lassie is gone. My thoughts are with you, Donald.

Lassie was a "pioneer" woman physician. She helped pave the way for all others of us in the profession. It's hard to believe that when she was making her mark at Stanford, women physicians were so few, compared to now.  She was among the first, and I looked up to her.

We visited Lassie and Donald when they were in Hamilton, several times. Lassie made bread with her starter yeast culture... my first intro to homemade bread.  When I make bread now, with my own starter, I think of Lassie.

Donald and Lassie took us to  a "fancy” restaurant near Hamilton, just the four of us. Nice dinner. Wish I could remember the name of the restaurant.

I was in to horseback riding, especially when we lived in New Zealand. When we came back to the States, we went on a ride with Lassie in Portola Valley. I still remember that ride! 

I'm going to Montana by train with my grandson this August, 2022, and I will stop in Hamilton. I was going to ask Lassie and Don about good places to go rock hounding, since that is what my grandson is interested in.

I can't think of Montana without thinking of Lassie…. I’ll be telling him of a cousin he never knew.

Lassie loved going for a ride.  One day Don was wanting to watch the football game, lassie hated football . So Don said your taking her for a ride , yes.  We were gone two hours we went to SFO  to Golden Gate Park and the beach. When we got home where did you guys go SFO . Next day he was ready to for the same ride .  We explored China town the Bay Bridge , fishing area under the Dumbarton bridge , gardens etc.  Christmas lights in Willow Glen, Santana Row, Christmas in the park in San Jose.

Lassie and Mom (Joan Knight Shirley) became best friends when they lived a few houses away from each other as teens on the south side of Hamilton. Their friendship endured for more than seven decades, until Mom passed away two years ago. Mom always admired Lassie's intellect and courage -- traits that allowed her to be a trailblazer in the field of medicine. In later years, it got more difficult for the two friends to get together as frequently as they once had. But in 2018, Mom and I visited Don and Lassie in Hamilton. Among the highlights were tours of the farmer's market and the historical museum, as well as the West Fork of the Bitterroot River, where Mom had lived for several years as a child and Don and Lassie had made fishing and picnic trips. It brought back many pleasant memories, and it was wonderful that we had those moments together.

Lassie, Don and Dandy at their Hamilton home