Born on May 21, 1945, in Northampton, Massachusetts, she was the daughter of the late Frederick John Jayes and Grace Esther Ewing Jayes. She attended schools in Easthampton, Massachusetts, and graduated from Easthampton High School in 1963. She graduated from University of Massachusetts at Amherst (do not pronounce the “H”) with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Medical Laboratory Science. She leaves the love of her life, her husband of fifty-six years, Bruce Campbell Stewart of Dennis Port, Massachusetts, her daughter Melissa Anne Stewart and her husband Gerard Tynes Fairley of Acton, Massachusetts, and her son, Douglas Bruce Stewart and his wife Jessica Cloutier Stewart of Pownal, Maine, and precious grandchildren Colin Campbell, Claire Mary, and Caroline Grace Stewart. She will be missed by her Yorkie, Buster. She was predeceased by her brother, David Alexander Jayes of Brewster, Massachusetts.
Bruce and Dottie started their married life in East Hartford, Connecticut, where Dottie worked at Hartford Hospital and Traveler’s Insurance Company medical laboratory. In 1970, they moved back to Western Massachusetts and settled in Southampton. In 1971, she started an in-office medical laboratory for a group of doctors who became Northampton Internal Medicine. As the practice and laboratory grew, the laboratory was taken over by Bioran Medical Laboratory and became Quest Diagnostics. In the laboratory, not only did Dottie provide diagnostic expertise, she always had flowers, usually roses, on the reception desk. She became known as the Flower Lady of the laboratory and also for her gardens in Southampton. When Dottie left the laboratory in 2006, she had become the Technical Supervisor of all the Quest Diagnostic facilities in Western Massachusetts. Dottie was active in the activities of the First Congregational Church of Southampton, serving as a member of the Ladies Aid, Trustees, Christian Education committee, Search Committee, and as co-superintendent of the Church School. She was a member of the Southampton Women’s Club, a Girl Scout Troop leader, an avid Bridge player and gardener.
In 2008, Bruce and Dottie retired to their summer house on Cape Cod. Here Dottie continued her love of gardening and particularly roses. She again became known as the Flower Lady and was always asked gardening questions. Her roses won prizes at local rose shows. She was a member of the West Dennis Garden Club, the Dennis-Yarmouth Women’s Club, the Cape Cod Rose Society, and the Cape Cod Hydrangea Society, and played bridge at every opportunity. She was also a volunteer with the Dennis Police Department.
Visiting hours will be held at the Doane, Beal, & Ames Funeral Home, 729 Rt. 134, South Dennis, on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 from 1-3 PM with a service at 3 PM. Burial is at the convenience of the family in Brookside Cemetery, Easthampton, Massachusetts. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the American Cancer Society in Dorothy’s honor.
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