1923 – 2017
June R. Dyer, 93, formerly of Southington, Conn., passed away Wednesday, Jan. 25, at her Schooner Estates home.
June was born June 22, 1923, in Auburn, to Ralston and Ina (Shannon) Read. Her elementary education was in the New Jersey school system, her family moved back to Lewiston where June graduated from Lewiston High School with the Class of 1940. Following high school, she enrolled in Bliss College in Lewiston. During high school, June had many part-time jobs, one of which involved the yarn department at Peck’s Department Store where she learned about yarns and embroidery. She was an active member of the Lewiston Baptist Church and choir. Later, June moved to Augusta where she joined the staff of the state police and became a member of the Augusta Girl’s Club.
In November 1945, June married her college beau, Richard Dyer, they moved to Mexico, for Richard’s first teaching job. In 1949, they moved to Providence, R.I. In Providence, June managed a Yarn Shop in the Arcade Building. In 1951, they moved back to Augusta where June became a receptionist at Mel’s Beauty Shop and joined the Augusta Players. June always found part-time jobs including, junior high school secretary, music proctor for a university and as yarn shop’s assistant. Southington, Conn., became their home in 1964 where they stayed for 43 years. In Southington, June started teaching knitting and crocheting at Bristol Senior Center and Southington Calendar House for Seniors. She became a member of the Connecticut River Valley Chapter of the Embroidery Guild of America, attending many workshops and seminars of the local and national groups. She worked for several yarn shops in the area and joined the staff of the Thistle Needleworks in Wethersfield, Conn. June and Richard retired from Connecticut to Sunnybrook Village in Brunswick and then to Schooner Estates in Auburn.
June enjoyed traveling, especially visiting Maine for Christmas, and she loved knitting for others or helping them with their knitting and crocheting.
She is survived by her husband of 71 years, Richard “Dick” Dyer of Auburn;, sisters, Alice Burpee of Calif., and Clara Dumas of Auburn; niece, Judy Walker and her husband, Tim, of Poland; nephew, James Dumas and his wife, Jennifer, of Lewiston; niece, Jayne Brainerd and her husband, Bob, of Lewiston; grandnephews, Ryan Walker of Sabattus, Evan Walker of Gray, Alan Gosselin of California, Jake and Jared Dumas of Lewiston; grandniece, Jazlyn of Lewiston; and grandniece, Jenny Polito of California.
Many thanks to the Androscoggin Hospice team and staff members at Schooner Estates for their compassion, care and understanding.
Those who wish may leave a note of condolence at www.brackettfuneralhome.com.
Send questions/comments to the editors.