ST. GEORGE — Dorothy Alice Jameson, 102, passed away peacefully into the arms of her Lord Friday, January 17, 2020 at the Cushing Homestead following a period of declining health. She had been a resident there since August 2019.

Born in Thomaston May 18, 1917 to Leroy Irving Harrington Sr. and Alice (Mank) Harrington, she grew up on Wadsworth Street in Thomaston, was raised by her older sister, Gladys, and her grandmother, Annie Mank, after her own mother passed away in 1927 when Dot was only 10. She attended Thomaston schools until she met and married her husband, Roger B. Jameson of Rockland on June 16, 1934.

Dot and Roger rented a few dwellings in Thomaston and Rockland before they were able to purchase their forever home on Marsh Road in Thomaston, a 6-acre farm. Their son, Ronald, was born in 1936 when they lived in Rockland, and their daughter, Jo Anne, in 1948, after they purchased the farm. Dot continued to live at Marsh Road until Nov. 2015, when she moved to St. George to live with her daughter.

Dot was a homemaker, but discovered she had a real love for baking and started making pies and other pastries for local businesses and individuals in the 1950’s and ‘60s. For one Thanksgiving, she baked a total of 33 pies and had an oven that could bake 8 pies at one time.

In 1966, Dot and Roger purchased the former Woodcock’s Market from their dear friends and travelling companions, Richard and Audrey Woodcock. The store had its grand opening as Jameson’s Market in August of 1966. Dot loved meeting the people, and after she settled into her new career, began baking large cookers of beans every weekend to sell in the store, as well as making and selling Italian sandwiches which were a big hit with the public. Even many years after selling the store, Dot would tell her family that she had many dreams about running the cash register, which was often a frustrating piece of equipment for her.

Even now, people refer to the store as Jameson’s, even though it has been Thomaston Grocery for over 25 years.

Dot was a member of the Thomaston Federated Church for over 70 years and sang alto in the choir for 40-plus years with her best friend Audrey at her side, and her daughter, Jo Anne, as choir director for 25 of those years. She and Roger were members of the church couple’s group called the We-Two Club. She worked on all the public suppers and church fairs and loved getting together once a week, often at Erma Peters’ home, with the other church ladies making crafts to sell at the fair. Her favorite crafts were items made with plastic canvas, Christmas ornaments, and latch hook rugs. She also made great Divinity fudge for the food table.

Dot and Roger were chosen as Grand Marshalls of the Thomaston July 4th celebration one year for all their service to the community. They were always very humble about their lives. She loved the Red Sox, a love that was honed over many years of watching games and attending many at Fenway Park with Roger and the Woodcocks. She always knew where the Sox were in the standings, and loved talking stats, even in recent years, with her son, Ronnie, and granddaughter, Barb.

Dot loved to play Scrabble and Flinch. It kept her mind sharp, and she looked forward to playing with anyone who walked through the door. Her favorite Scrabble partner was Dan Forman, Jo Anne’s step-son-in-law. Whenever he came up to visit from New York, he would make sure to stop in and play a game or two. Dan and Dot were very evenly matched, sometimes ending with tie scores. Just weeks before her death, Dan made a visit to Maine and the smile on Dot’s face when he entered her room was priceless. They played a game and she won! She also had many close matches over the years with granddaughters Kristin and Terry. Her caregivers, Pam, June and Terri H. were her Flinch rivals.

She was extremely proud of her family and often commented at family gatherings, “Look what Roger and I started!” She also said her long life could be attributed to good clean living.

Perhaps her long life was hereditary, since her grandmother, Annie Mank, lived to be 105, and her sister, Gladys, 101. Dot and Annie had both been holders of the Boston Post Cane, given to the oldest citizen in their community.

Dot was predeceased by her husband of 65 years, Roger B. Jameson, in 2000; her 7 brothers and sisters, Gladys Forbus O’Neill, Madeline Baker Cooper, Leroy Harrington, Jr., Glenice B. Randall, Barbara Angelopoulos, Betty Peabbles, and Bernard James Sullivan; and her granddaughter, Linda Marie Jameson.

She is survived by her son, Ronald G. Jameson and his wife Muriel of Beloit WI; her daughter, Jo Anne Parker of St. George; her seven grandchildren, Roger T. Jameson, Barbara Gowdy, Stephanie Carlson and her husband Brice, Rhonda LeFeber and her husband Rich, Sheryl Carpenter and her husband Don, Terry Banda and her husband Paul, and Kristin O’Neal and her husband Dale; 3 step-grandchildren, Sue Forman and her husband Dan, James Parker, Jeffrey Parker and his wife Terry; 17 great-grandchildren; 6 step-great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; 9 step-great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life for Dot will be held Saturday, February 29, at 1 p.m., at the Thomaston Federated Church, with the Rev. Dr. Susan Stonestreet officiating. A reception will be held in Fellowship Hall at the church immediately following the service.

Committal will be held at the Village Cemetery in Thomaston on Dot’s birthday, May 18, 2020 at 10 a.m.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Thomaston Federated Church, 8 Hyler St., Thomaston ME 04861.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.

To share a memory or condolence with Dot’s family, visit their Book of Memories at bchfh.com