Dorothy May (Dyas) Yorke passed away peacefully surrounded by her children after a brief illness on April 7, 2015 at her daughter’s home in Tyngsboro, MA. She was born on July 11, 1924 to Irene (Ireland) Dyas and Donald Vernon Dyas in Hackensack, New Jersey. As a child and young adult, Dorothy lived in New Jersey, Parrsboro, Nova Scotia and then Brookline, Massachusetts. She married Ralph Burton Yorke in 1943, who pre-deceased her in 1995. She was the loving mother of five adoring children, Joan, Ronald, Judith (deceased in 1955), Thomas and James, three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Dorothy spent many summers in Parrsboro visiting with her beloved grandparents, Burton Zachariah and Julia (Meyers) Dyas. During the Great Depression, Dorothy and her younger sister, Jean, lived with their grandparents and attended grade school in Parrsboro for a year. As a teenager, Dorothy met Parrsboro native, Ralph Yorke during Parrsboro’s Old Home Week and they quickly fell in love. Ralph immigrated to the States, where they made their home and raised their family.
Dorothy loved spending time at Two Islands and at Partridge Island searching for and collecting beautiful rocks. Dorothy was an avid walker and could be seen walking to town from Two Islands and back again. Dorothy was given the nickname “Walks Far Woman” by her good friend Ruth Krauth. Dorothy had many dear friends in Parrsboro and will be sadly missed. She is survived by first cousin Marion Merriam of Parrsboro, as well as, lifelong friend Harold Hatfield of Lakelands. Dorothy also leaves behind many close nieces and nephews who reside in Dartmouth, NS.
Last summer, Dorothy celebrated her 90th birthday at the family’s summer home at Two Islands which was attended by a large gathering of friends and close extended family.
Dorothy will be remembered as a kind, gentle, loving and compassionate daughter, wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandparent and friend to everyone she came in contact with. She will be forever loved, missed and always remembered.