Joan was born in Rockport, MA in 1936, the only child of Gloria Davis and Alexander (Sandy) Cameron. She was raised in Marblehead and graduated from Marblehead High School in 1954. Joan attended Vesper George School of Art in Boston before she and her former husband, William (Bill) W. Dyer Jr, lovingly raised seven children in Marblehead. “One for each day of the week,” she would tell people.
Her large family was her pride and joy, and she will be missed terribly by her children: Susan D. Mercer, William W. Dyer III and his wife Barbara, Elizabeth (Liz) Parker and her partner Nardi Suydam, Hanna Dyer and her husband Rob Warner, Daniel Dyer, Cary Dyer, DVM and her husband John Stevenson and Joan Cameron; her grandchildren: Alex and his partner Kylee, Nate and his partner Katherine, Sean and his wife Ashley, Brian and his partner Julia, Dan Jr., Liam, Calhoun, Cameron, Quinn, Izzi, Ella and Jamie; and her great grandchildren: Allee, Cameron, Xander, Axel, Colin and Claire.
Joan worked at Marblehead Handprints and The Yankee Doodler art store in Marblehead, and at Neiman Marcus in Boston. She had an art studio in Gloucester’s Rocky Neck Art Colony and specialized in watercolor painting and photography. Her work was frequently exhibited at the annual Marblehead Festival of Arts, where she won several awards of merit. Joan wrote and enjoyed poetry, was an avid reader, loved movies and music, and continued to study art throughout her life. She sought meaning in life through Buddhism, and delighted in attending teachings by the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh and Jack Kornfield. She was a free spirit with a youthful curiosity and endless creativity. Her sense of humor and beautiful smile will be missed by so many.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Provincetown Arts Association and Museum (PAAM), www.paam.org or The Marblehead Festival of Arts, www.marbleheadfestival.org/donation/.
A celebration of Joan’s life and art will be held on Sunday, October 28th, at The Harbor Room, 8 Norwood Court, Gloucester, MA 01930 from 12-3PM. All who loved and admired her are welcome to join her family. Arrangements by Eustis and Cornell of Marblehead.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIOCOMPARTA
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