RAY WORNALL
Ray Vivienne Malcolm was born in Gisborne on the thirtieth of October 1916.
At 24 she decided to study art, and with her mother moved to Christchurch where they took a flat in Bealey Ave.
Ray studied at the Christchurch College of Arts and became a popular member of the school made well known by Bill Sutton.
After graduation she taught art at West High, and pursued her passion, painting prolifically. She enjoyed landscapes and seascapes and spent many enjoyable days camping with her mother in South Canterbury where she set up her easel and canvas.
In 1946, post war, at the age of 32, she travelled by passenger liner to England, where she took possession of a brand new Hunter Hawke motorcar on behalf of her brother John, who was by then a successful pilot. She drove for a year in the UK, painting She witnessed much of the destruction in post war Europe, and developed a lifelong appetite for travel.
In 2010 at 94 years of age, Ray unexpectedly was diagnosed with cancer, despite a life of healthy living.
An operation gave her 6 months of delight and freedom, continuing to drive her little white Toyota, play croquet and mahjong, and enjoy her friends.
Sadly, despite a good prognosis, the cancer returned.
She succumbed reluctantly after a spirited battle on….
We all loved Ray, a humble yet strong willed gentlewoman who offered her love and respect to everyone she met.
I see her now in some far off foreign field, amongst poppies and daisies, with her easel.
Happy.
