Dorothea Mary Walker was born to Mr. and Mrs. Gifford R. Thomson on January 18, 1877 at Lochen in the Shetland Islands. The Gifford family came to the Okanagan Mission in May of 1892.  The family settled on a farm property in Benvoulin and Dorothea set about the task of qualifying as a teacher. In September 1894 Dorothea became the first school teacher in the Ellison District and taught at Ellison for five years. She also taught in Benvoulin. Dorothea married in 1904 to W.D. Walker and they lived in the old house which still stands on Lakeshore Road. The Walkers sold that property and moved to property in the Okanagan Mission which became known as "Parson's Pleasure", named through their close association with Archdeacon Thomas Greene, who was a frequent visitor. She was also an accomplished horsewoman taking part in many coyote hunts and paper chases. She was an active member of St. Andrew's Guild. Being a long time resident of the Okanagan Mission, a school was named after Mrs. Walker, called "Dorothea Walker Elementary." The school opened November 29, 1961. Dorothea Walker was predeceased by her husband in 1973 and by their eldest daughter Primrose Upton in 1975. Dorothea Walker died on April 28, 1976.                                   


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