Dorothy Aileen Boyd Williams (Dodie) was born in Toronto in 1918, was educated there, married there and raised her family there.

Dodie was always creating, either doodling while talking on the telephone, drawing her famous little Henry sketches on the bottom of letters to friends and family, creating Christmas cards or intently studying a painting or piece she was working on. She loved art so much that, with some creative penmanship and without her parents’ permission, she transferred herself from North Toronto Collegiate to Northern Vocational Collegiate as they had the best art courses in Toronto at that time. All she wanted to do was draw, and her parents, latterly agreed. 

In the late 1970s, Dodie and her husband, Ted, moved to Muskoka and quickly became active and involved members with Muskoka Arts & Crafts. Together, they both exhibited at the Summer Show for a number of years, Dodie with her exquisite tole painted pieces and charming painted miniatures and Ted with his first love, photography, and later with his beautiful handbound books. They booth took their turns helping out wherever they could be it demonstrating their crafts, minding a gate or assisting with shows. 

After Ted passed away, Dodie wanted to honour his memory and established the Ted Williams Memorial Award for Most Innovative Work, which was given annually at the Spring Members’ Show. 

Dodie died on April 10, 2007.