Obituary of Joyce Madeline Dunton

Joyce Dunton, 86, of Brooks, ME. passed away peacefully on March 18, 2016. Joyce was born Joyce Madeline Fletcher in Mars Hill, ME on April 1, 1929. She had four brothers and one sister and spent most of her childhood on a farm in Levant. She attended Children's Hospital School of Nursing in Boston and became a Registered Nurse. Joyce spent her life as a caregiver, always helping others in need and never expecting anything in return. She was gentle, compassionate, understanding and kind with a wit inherited from her beloved father. She was dedicated and hardworking, always with a tender eye. Along the way she worked as a Floor Nurse, an IV Therapist, Intensive Care Charge Nurse and a Day Surgery Recovery nurse. She held these jobs in New York, Florida, New Hampshire and Maine. Feeling the need to “come home” she made a career change and purchased the Dixmont Corner Store in Dixmont. Here she settled into the community and made many friends. She owned and operated the store for 5 years, eventually selling it and returning to nursing at EMMC until she retired. Joyce was predeceased by an infant child, Bruce Bickmore, her husband David Dunton, her sister, Marion Hardy and her brothers Merle, Norman and David Fletcher. She loved and enjoyed her family, sharing with them many days of fishing and swimming at Swan Lake and attending any functions that they were involved in along the way. She was very proud of them and their accomplishments. Her surviving family include her children, Gaye Erskine of Solon, ME, Gerald Bickmore of Searsport, ME , and Catherine Carter of Jackson, Me; her grandchildren Jennifer Libby of Winslow, ME, Laura Cooley of Trenton, SC, Benjamin Erskine of Solon, ME, Brad Erskine of Solon, ME, Heather Carter of Jackson, ME., Megan Carter of Belfast, ME, and Nathan Carter of Waldo, ME. She especially enjoyed being GramGram to her 14 great grandchildren; they brought her much happiness in her later years. She is also survived by her brother, Charles Fletcher of OH and many nieces and nephews. Joyce has spent the last few years with a special friend, Robert Cookson, in Brooks, ME. She enjoyed his company, his sense of humor and his love of music and cards. With Bob she participated in Veteran events and had become a member of the First Congregational Church of Brooks. She enjoyed her time spent at church functions and with the church family. A special thanks to her dear friend, Donna Ravin, for the attention and friendship that she shared with our mother. Funeral Service will be held at Riposta Funeral Home in Belfast on Tuesday, March 22 at 1 pm. Hours of visitation will prelude the funeral from 11 am to 1 pm. In Lieu of Flowers, please send donations to the First Congregational Church of Brooks in her memory.