Margaret "Peggy" Dyer

Margaret 'Peggy' Dyer, 68 CHEBEAGUE ISLAND -- Margaret 'Peggy' Dyer, 68, of South Shore Drive, died Monday, Sept. 1, 2008, at her home surrounded by her family.

She was born in Tarrytown, N.Y., the daughter of Joseph and Francis Muraca. Peggy graduated from Ohio University, having taught in Ohio in her early working career but moved Maine and taught grades K-3 for Cumberland, North Yarmouth and SAD 51, retiring after 30 years of service. After retiring from teaching she worked for the Chebeague Island Library. Peggy and her lifelong friend, Jeanne Chadbourne, used to put on a summer theatre on Chebeague Island and this is how she met the man she would marry, Richard Dyer. They were married on Nov. 22, 1975. Peggy was very found of animals and loved her dog, Lizzie. She also enjoyed arts and crafts and loved researching genealogy. Her favorite holiday was Christmas.

She was predeceased by her sister, Beatrice Lambert. Peggy is survived by her husband of 33 years, Richard Dyer; two step daughters, Terry York of Orr's Island and Cindy Godin of Sabattus; four step grandchildren, Heidi Pomerleau of Bowdoin, Corey Godin of Sabattus, Kayla York and Bryan York both of Orr's Island; step great-granddaughter, Cali Pomerleau of Bowdoin. A nephew, Joseph Lambert and a special cousin Bea both from Florida also survive her.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, Sept. 8, 2008, at 11 a.m. at the Lindquist Funeral Home, One Mayberry Lane, Yarmouth. There will be a graveside service at the Chebeague Cemetary Saturday, September 13th at 1pm. You are invited to share your thoughts, condolences and memories with the Dyer family by visiting Peggy's guest book at www.mem.com. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Peggy's name to: The Town of Chebeague Rescue 192 North Rd. Chebeague Island, Maine 04017 or to The Chebeague Island Library 247 South Rd. Unit 3 Chebeague Island, Maine 04017 Margaret 'Peggy' Dyer Lindquist Funeral Home Funeral Home & Cremation Service 846-4011


Peggy sitting in the middle with tan suit around 1967Article below from the Portland Press Herald - 9/3/08

Margaret 'Peggy' Dyer, 68, 'wonderful teacher,' theater co-founder

Chebeague Island - Margaret "Peggy" Dyer, a retired teacher who volunteered at the library and ran a summer theater program on Chebeague Island for many years, died Monday. She was 68.

Mrs. Dyer taught kindergarten through third grade in Cumberland and North Yarmouth schools for about 25 years.

She began her teaching career in Ohio, where she met Jeanne Chadbourne, a retired teacher and former selectman and school board member who now lives in North Yarmouth. The Two took a chance and moved to Maine to teach and start a summer theater program for kids on Chebeague Island.

"It was a wonderful experience for the children and for us," Chadbourne said. "The productions were phenomenal. Working with kids to help them reach their final product was a wonderful thing to see....(Peggy) was a fun person and extraordinarily dedicated to the art of teaching. She was a fantastic teacher, a master teacher. She loved to bring out the potential that kids have."

Mrs. Dyer was the type of teacher who reached out to and connected well with students who were struggling in school.

Jan Finch of North Carolina, a longtime friend who worked across the hall from Mrs. Dyer in Ohio, said she let students know she liked them and taught them discipline and self-respect.

"She was a wonderful teacher. She was good at meeting individual needs," Finch said. "(My husband and I) have been coming up to visit her since 1967. She has been a very close friend. We e-mailed every day. We had so much in common that we could sit and talk for hours."

Mrs. Dyer was married to her husband, Richard, for 33 years. The couple met while she was working with the island's theater program. Her husband said they shared a great life.

"She was a dedicated wife. We had a lot of fun together and shared a lot of grief together," he said.

Mrs. Dyer battled cancer for many years. Her husband said she maintained a positive outlook throughout her treatments. "She didn't want to hear anything negative. She was amazing," he said.

Mrs. Dyer was a dedicated volunteer at the Chebeague Island Library. Martha Hamilton, a founder and longtime director, said they were great friends.

"She was a bubbly Italian, full of vigor and spirit. The children all loved her because she created magic for them," Hamilton said. "She was full of the dickens. We talked a lot. We bantered back and forth. We shared a lot.

...She was a good friend and I shall miss her."