Obituary: Brigid Dunn Dalton

Brigid Dalton obituary
Brigid Dalton may be remembered by many for her work at the Ashland Springs Hotel front desk and the OSF box office.
October 1, 2023

July 22, 1965 – Aug. 08, 2023

The world lost a beautiful sprite with the unexpected passing of Brigid Dunn Dalton over the summer,  shortly after her 58th birthday.

Brigid was born in Detroit in 1965 to Rosemary Dunn Dalton and Thomas M. Dalton, joining older siblings Tom Jr. and Molly Anne, and sporting the family trait of plentiful freckles and vibrant red hair.

When Brigid was 9 the family moved out west to Ashland, where Rosemary founded the Dunn House shelter for survivors of abuse, and where Brigid’s infectiously friendly and effervescent personality cemented lifelong friendships with everyone she came into contact with. It’s as if Brigid’s sole purpose on Earth was to spread joy and make friends.

After graduating from Ashland High School in 1983, Brigid and her mother both went on the unusual adventure of relocating to New England to attend Boston College at the same time before returning to Ashland in 1994.

Brigid Dalton had an eye for vintage fashion and hats.

That’s where Brigid spent the rest of her years, many of them working in the box office at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and behind the front desk at Ashland Springs Hotel, spreading her charm and effervescence.

Brigid was an Ashland icon, known for her keen sense of vintage fashion flair, from her hats to her shoes, and was always offering kindness, compassion, hugs and assistance to anyone she encountered.

Brigid is deeply missed and loved by those who survive her, including her mother, Rosemary Dalton, and partner Marie Bagley, sister Molly Dalton, a huge extended family and a million friends. She was preceded by her father Tom Sr. and brother Tommy, and the siblings now lie for eternity next to each other at Mountain View Cemetery. 

The community is invited to celebrate the life and beautiful spirit of Brigid on Saturday, Oct. 21, at 11:30 a.m. at Carpenter Hall, 44 S. Pioneer St., Ashland. Please feel free to bring photos and memories, or wear a favorite hat in honor of Brigid’s plucky spark. A potluck will follow, in reverence of Brigid’s generous, sharing nature that we will miss to the end of our days. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Brigid’s honor to the Dunn House.

Obituaries may be submitted to Ashland.news via our online article submission form, or via email to [email protected], with a photo or two attached if desired. Please be sure to include dates of birth and death, and reference to connections to Ashland/Talent/Southern Oregon. Please allow a few days for posting. There is no charge. Those wishing to make a donation supporting the Ashland.news service may do so here.

Picture of Jim

Jim

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