Pauline Ellyn Doughty was born May 12, 1922 in Fresno, California. Her maiden name was Kalakian. In her early life she trained as a nurse. She married Leo Doughty and together they had three children, two sons and a daughter. Their daughter also became a nurse. During Leo's long confinement with emphysema and following his death Ellyn became progressively estranged from her children, especially her daughter. The estrangement was later enforced by court order and was a source of great pain to Ellyn.
Ellyn joined the Palo Alto Monthly Meeting on November 24, 1972 and remained a member of this Meeting until her death. She participated in the Meeting for a time after becoming a member. She later fondly recalled enjoying the fellowship of other women in the meeting during those years. Ellyn made contact with the Meeting again during the period of financial and emotional crisis following Leo's death. The Meeting was able to assist her in reorganizing finances, in establishing limited contact with her sons, and in providing emotional support. She chose not to attend Meeting for Worship at that time.
In the late 1980's Ellyn married Marien Lee Stimson and moved away from Palo Alto. The following years were very difficult for her. During this time her daughter, who had been very depressed, committed suicide. Her second marriage ended in divorce in 1994 and in June of that year she was committed to the Oregon State Hospital. She died there in September 1996. Ellyn is survived by two sons, one living in Eugene Oregon and the other in Minnesota.
A life such as Ellyn's reminds us that life is sometimes bitter and painful and that it is not fair. For some people death is a release from hardships and injustice. For Ellyn, she now has peace and the eternal understanding that can only come from unity with God.
