Merrimac — Dorothy “Dot” Cloyd, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at Kindred Country Manor Nursing Home in Newburyport, after a long and happy life.
She was born Dorothy Melvina Amidon on September 27, 1917 in Jamaica Plain, Boston, daughter of the late Walter and Ada Belle (Chapman) Amidon. She was predeceased by her late husband, Arthur Cloyd, a brother, Charles Amidon and a daughter, Shirley Omps.
She attended public school in Jamaica Plain and upon graduating began work at an insurance company in Boston. This is where Dot met Arthur Cloyd who ran Cloyd’s Grille in the same building that she worked in at 40 Broad Street in Boston. They later married and moved to Amesbury. Then in 1947, they finally moved to Merrimac, where her husband, Arthur, started building trailers at what is now the Coastal Metal building on Littles Court. Then they moved to 107 East Main Street, and started a trailer park which is now the site of North Shore Community Park. They continued to build and repair trailers until they sold the park in 1961 and moved to 101 East Main Street, and built a building to build and repair trailers. This building still stands today and houses several businesses. They also purchased, 97 East Main Street, which was the former Skip’s Snack Bar location and which also included a residence where they lived throughout their lives.
In 1949, four couples put together a small parade with a Santa and sleigh and a small car starting at Don and Rita Kimball’s Barn on East Main Street next to Skip's and went to the square and back. Little did they know they were starting a yearly tradition which became the Merrimac Santa Parade. Dorothy was the last surviving original member of that group.
For many years Dot and her husband, Arthur, supported the Merrimac Fire Department by serving coffee and beverages at fire scenes. In 1964, Dot finally got a group together and formed what is now the Merrimac Couplings. Dot was elected as Chief, a position which she held for 18 years. She was having problems with her vision so she stepped down but remained an active member to support the Couplings and Fire Dept.
For many years there was not any place in town for the police officers to eat at night, so Dot offered to feed them which she did for years. Both Dot and her husband Arthur were very supportive of the police department.
Dot had worked with Howard Phillips, owner of Heath Insurance in Merrimac, where she worked for many years. Upon the death of Howard Phillips she went to work for City Insurance in Haverhill retiring as Vice President at the age of 70.
While she was working for Heath Insurance, she also became Town Clerk of Merrimac, a title she held for 25 years, retiring due to vision issues. Dot was a member of the Merrimac Housing Authority for eight years.
She became very active supporting and helping at the Merrimac Senior Center. She became a driving force to get the current location for the center and helped out about every day until her health would no longer allow.
She was a member of the Merrimacport United Methodist Church in Merrimac. When her husband, Arthur, passed away in 1978, she started to go to the Widows and Widowers Club in Haverhill. After a while there was a large group from Merrimac that belonged, so they started a club in Merrimac at the Senior Center.
She is survived by her daughters, Elaine and husband, Raymond Peters of Haverhill, and Caroline and husband, William Lewis of Virginia; grandchildren, James and wife, Louise Peters of Plaistow, N.H., Linda and husband, Robert of Dover, N.H., Robert Peters of Merrimac, Pamela and husband Richard Pearson of Haverhill, Sheila Belmer of Haverhill, Cynthia Boudwin of Haverhill, and Clifford and wife, Nancy Peters of Haverhill; 13 great-grandchildren, and 14 great-great-grandchildren.
A special thanks and appreciation to all of the staff at Country Manor Rehabilitation in Newburyport, who all cared for Dot so many times and returned her home. Also the Merrimack Valley Hospice to help her journey to a much better final home.
ARRANGEMENTS: Family and friends are invited to gather at Pilgrim Congregational Church in Merrimac to celebrate her life on Saturday, February 2. Calling hours at the church will start at 9 a.m. with a service to follow at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Mt. Prospect Cemetery in Amesbury.
In lieu of flowers, kindly make donations to Merrimacport United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, P.O.Box 214, Merrimac, MA 01860 or to Merrimac Senior Center, 100 East Main Street, Merrimac, MA 01860, or to Merrimac Couplings, C/O Merrimac Fire Dept., 16 East Main Street, Merrimac, MA 01860. All these organizations held a special place in her heart. Arrangements are by Paul C. Rogers & Sons Family Funeral Home, 36 West Main Street, Merrimac.
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