Gretchen N. Markham

Author, Artist, Mother

Gretchen Markham, 89, of Brewster passed away peacefully on February 6, 2017.

Born in Cleveland, OH, Gretchen grew up in Miami, FL and later moved to New York to become a John Robert Powers teenage model. She married her high school sweetheart, Gilbert H. Markham. They moved to Philadelphia, PA while her husband attended the University of Pennsylvania Dental School.

Settling on Long Island, NY, Mrs. Markham raised her children and pursued her interest in painting, she studied art and her prizewinning canvases can now be found in both public and private collections. She began her writing career upon her retirement to Brewster, MA, with her first self-help book on bereavement. Other books of humor, children’s stories and novels of romance followed.

Gretchen is survived by her daughter Gerryl Susan Markham, of Brewster; son Gregory Haskell Markham and his wife Patricia Markham of Brewster; granddaughter Heather Allyson Forney and her husband Robert, great-grandson Brandon Forney all of Waltham; niece Leslie Markham-Brown of Seattle and nephew Jeffrey Markham of Chicago.

Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in Gretchen’s name may be made to Animal Rescue League, Brewster Shelter, 3981 Main Street (Rt. 6A), East Brewster, MA 02631.

For online condolences, please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com