A devastated family have shared memories of an Edinburgh gran who led an incredible life in Leith during the war and stayed in the community for most of her life helping others.
Dorothy Montgomery, nee Baker peacefully died on April 25 aged 90 and was a born and bred Leither spending the last 70 years in her home at Kinghorn Place.
The kind gran is survived by daughter Yvonne Baker, granddaughter Dorothy, grandson Andrew and her great-granddaughter.
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When she was young, Dorothy worked at the sweet counter in Woolworths at Kirkgate during the war - but was too small behind the counter so had to stand on a footstool.
The 90-year-old was well known around Leith and spent decades working for Dulux making friends with painters across the capital and beyond - as well as becoming quite the expert who many came to for advice.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, Dorothy said: "My gran was born on December 8, 1933, so she almost made it to 91. Honestly, I know people say it but she truly was a lovely, just really special lady.
"I started calling her Dodo when I was learning to talk and that name took off, most people I know called her that too. She was born in a house at Hawkhill Avenue, her Mum was Mary Ellen Baker and her adoptive Dad was Jock.
"She was the eldest of six and grew up at Wilkie Place, which she remembers so so fondly. She worked in Woolworths in the Kirkgate during the war at the sweet counter but because she was so wee, not even 5ft, she had to stand on a stool to reach over the counter!
"She then worked at Bond 9 along with a lot of her sisters."
Dot stayed in Leith and built a life there when she met her husband and married in the late 50s.
Her granddaughter continued: "She married my grandad John Montgomery, also known as Monty, in 1957 at North Leith Parish church.
"She was very well travelled with my grandad, I forgot about how many places they went. I don’t know the exact date that she started working at JP McDougals but it was years and years ago and then turned into a Dulux.
"Every painter would ask for her because she was so knowledgeable about the wallpaper etc and when it came time for her to retire they started a petition trying to get Dulux to keep her on!
"Even when my Mum and I took her to a paint shop in Kelso a year or two ago the owner’s daughter who used to call my gran to put in the orders many moons ago even remembered her, my gran was really happy at that.
"We took her to a village fete here in the Borders and she even met a painter there that knew her.
"She never forgets a painter's name, even at 90."
Dorothy said: "She was always out and about with her shopping bags, never wanting help and always looked so lovely with her hair and makeup on!
"She had two grandchildren, me and my brother Andrew, and she lived long enough to meet my brother's little girl who is now three years old which I’m so happy about.
"She lived at Kinghorn Place since 1957 when she married and never moved. She used to get down on her hands and knees to clean the stair until the very end and organised the stair cleaning every Tuesday.
"Dot was the last of her generation to live there, all her old neighbours and friends died quite a while ago. My gran was one of the first in Edinburgh to get an automatic washing machine and a colour tv!"
The gran spent a fulfilled life and kept busy till she was tragically diagnosed with bowel cancer in her 80s and was saved on one occasion by the family dog.
Dorothy said: "It’s thanks to one of my dogs that she got to live these extra years.
"I moved into Kinghorn place to care for her when she had her bowel cancer and my dog woke me up howling like a wolf and jumping on my chest, he was running back and forth between me and where my gran was and when I went through she was lying on the floor unconscious.
"If he hadn’t done that she would have died. Even animals knew how special she was!"
The family didn’t want to go down the care home route so Dot moved into a gorgeous cottage in the Borders for the last period of her life, where she could truly relax.
She treasured these years spent with her daughter and granddaughter as Dorothy tells.
"She was very active until her bowel cancer about six years ago but then we realised she was going to need a lot of help so she moved here to the Borders.
"She became a city girl in the country and although Leith never left her, truly, she told me the night before she died that it had been some of the best years of her life because she could truly relax.
"She would sit out the front of the cottage so she could feed the hens and scare away the crows so they didn’t pinch their food, she loved animals, she was so caring," she said.
Finally, she added: "We desperately didn’t want her to ever have to go into a nursing home so we tried so hard to meet all her needs at home.
"We’ve both spent every waking moment with my gran since she came here keeping her as happy and comfortable as possible.
"We’re lost without her. We took her out for lunch at least twice a week and she loved to sit in a beer garden with her lager, it was so cute, and she loved to people-watch."
"Everyone here got to know her too and loved her. She would have helped anyone, give away her last penny.
"She was the love of my life as I’d tell her every night and it was the last thing I said to her, I can’t believe she’s not here anymore."
Dozens of neighbours remembered the special lady and shared treasured memories of Dot out and about around Leith.
Diane Lewis said: "So sad to hear that your Gran has passed but no more pain for her now.
"I too live in Kinghorn Place and had many a chat while walking home with her from the bus, often helping her carry her shopping when she would let me!
"Always caring about others and I never knew how she managed those three flights of stairs."
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Grace Aberdour said: "So sorry to hear about Dorothy I knew her very well they both lived next door to us in Gordon Street. Monty was my dad's friend and you are right about every painter knowing her 'cause I married one and he knew her."
Shirley Jack-Thomson added: "I was childhood friends with Margaret Farmer nee Baker and we used to visit your Gran.
"She would make us a cup of tea and get the biscuit box out! I am a Leither and used to see her in Great Junction Street regularly doing her shopping!
"I moved house a couple of years ago and now walk along Bonnington Grove to take my dog to Victoria Park and every time I walk past Kinghorn Place I think of wee Dot!"
While Bobbie Maxwell-Kidd said: So sorry to hear about Dorothy’s passing my dad John Maxwell (Bud) was great friends with your grandad Monty as well as with your Gran.
"He spoke very kindly about them both. I always remember her as being immaculately dressed and her make-up done never a hair out of place! Very pretty lady. So sorry for your loss."
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