Doris “Dottie” E. Nemer

SKOWHEGAN – Doris “Dottie” E. Nemer, 91, passed away peacefully in her sleep at Tissues Country Estates in Athens, Maine on June 9, 2025. She was born in Guilford, on March 25, 1934, the daughter of the late Austin and Mildred (Russell) McEwen.

Dottie was educated in Guilford, where she spent most of her younger years until settling in Skowhegan where she lived and raised a family until assisted living became necessary. She held a wide variety of jobs throughout her life. As a young girl she helped her father pick potatoes on the farm. She worked at both the Norrwock & Dexter shoe factories and always said that packing shoes was her favorite job of all. She was an instructor at the Sylvain’s Slimm Shoppe and then an Avon Representative for over 20 years where she was a President’s Club member. Later she volunteered her time at the Skowhegan Thrift Shop.

In her younger years Dottie can be remembered as a vibrant woman that loved to have a good time. She was in a bowling league for many years, enjoyed music (especially Elvis), loved to dance and party at the Elks, enjoyed her lunches and cocktails with her girlfriends, and loved to go to the casino to play the slot machines. She also loved to collect many different things but the one that brought her the most joy were her beanie babies. She loved to travel, whether it was to visit her kids in California and Hawaii, trips with her Avon Troop, or the many trips she took with her husband to various Elks functions throughout the state and country. She was an active member in the Ladies Elks Auxiliary and was named mother of the year in 1975 and 1989. She loved the ocean and she always looked forward to our family vacations at Popham beach. She loved playing various games with family and friends, but a cherished memory is of the bingo games she used to hold for our entire family, especially when her grandkids were little. Lots of laughs and great times.

Later in life she loved to read, do puzzles, play bingo and still loved card games until poor eyesight made all these things impossible. A big bowl of ice cream became her biggest joy. Always a woman to speak her mind, she made no secret that she was not very fond of the last years of her life, and she was not having fun anymore. In spite of this, we are grateful for each one of the 91 years we got to spend with her and the memories we will have. She will be missed beyond words, but we take comfort in knowing she is happy now and at peace. She will live forever in our hearts.

She is survived by her three children, William Nemer and his wife Sheila of Ashland, Robin Yeaton and her husband Thomas of Newport, and Brenda Nemer and her husband Brian of Pasadena, Md., as well as one sister Sandra Smith of Dexter, four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and many special nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband of 50 years, Maroon “Moo Moo” Nemer, four brothers, James, Clarence (Pete), Dermith and Vincent McEwen, one sister Diana Patterson Smallman and her very best friend Terry Brower.

The family would like to thank the staff at Tissues Country Estates for the loving care they gave our mother for the last several years of her life and particularly in her final days.

At her request, there will be no funeral.

Please visit Doris’ memorial page at https://svremembrancecenter.com/obituaries/doris-nemer where condolences, photos, and special memories may be shared.

If you would like to honor her memory, it was her wish to help put beautiful smiles on the faces of less fortunate children around the world. You can visit Smile Train at smiletrain.org/donatenow or make checks payable to Smile Train at PO Box 96208, Washington, DC 20090-6208.