Dorothy L. Foxon of Tewksbury, formerly of Reading and Malden, a longtime member of First Baptist Church of Malden, MA. passed away peacefully on December 31, 2021, at Sawtelle Family Hospice House in Reading. She was 91 years old.
Born on May 23, 1930, in Melrose, Dottye is the daughter of the late Lester B. Lent and Gladys (Sawtelle) Lent. Dottye was a warm and caring daughter, sister, wife, mother, and great grandmother, aunt, and friend. She will be deeply missed.
As a life member of First Baptist Church of Malden, MA., Dottye served on many boards and committees thru the years. She was also a member of the Roser Memorial Church in Anna Maria, Florida. She also volunteered with her late husband, Mark, at the museum of Science in Boston, the U.S.S Constitution and the South Florida Museum in Bradenton, Florida.
Dottye graduated in Lynn English High School and Lynn Hospital School of Nursing class of 1951. She had worked at the Malden Hospital and at the office of Dr. Mark Margiotta in Reading until her retirement.
Dottye was the beloved wife for 69 years of the late Mark Foxon of Tewksbury, Massachusetts. She was the devoted Mother of Jeffrey Foxon of Lowell and Tom Foxon and his wife Wendy of Peabody. Sadly, she was predeceased by her daughter, Joy Elizabeth Foxon.
Dottye was sister to the late Leslie Barbara Tanner. She was sister-in-law to Raymond Dietz of Virginia. She was predeceased by sisters-in-law Betty Foxon, Faith Baekey and Nancy Dietz and her beloved grandson Tommy Foxon. She was cherished “Nana” to Kerri Foxon Gannon and husband Gary, Scott Foxon and wife Rebecca, Julie and Joe D’Arcangelo, Eva Nicholas and husband Jeremy, Jenn Ciaramicoli and husband Paul, Mike Foxon and Kori Nicholson. She was “Nannie” to Jake Gannon, Calvin and Tamsen Foxon, Tiffani, Ali and Joseph D’Arcangelo, Cassidy and Cameron Nicholas, and Addy and Mayla Ciaramicoli. She also leaves 6 beloved nieces and nephews.
Dottye, as the church calls her, was active in many church organizations, the earliest of which was the Mr. and Mrs. Fellowship. Both Mark and Dottye were very active in this group, especially the annual Bean Supper and entertainment that followed the meal. Dottye often wrote, choreographed and directed the entertainment each year.
As a strong woman of faith, Dottye could always be counted on to give her support to the programs and missions of the “Women’s Society”, later designated as the American Baptist Women’s Ministries (ABWM) of First Baptist Malden. It was her gift of hospitality that the women also enjoyed with her frequent gracious hosting of the annual ABWM and Group “Q” Christmas Party in her home.
The primary board she served on was the Trustees. She was also a member of the Clark Fellowship Class. Dottye and Mark were always willing to staff the Coffee and Doughnuts table at our church fairs. She was also famous for her PB&J sandwiches and chocolate brownies. Dottye’s famous brownies also delighted the volunteers of the North Shore Habitat for Humanity projects, when lunches were provided as another of our church’s mission outreaches.
Mark and Dottye were recognized by the congregation in 2007 as Laypersons of the Year. A poem highlights how important this couple was to our church family. Mona Hatch a church member and friend of Mark and Dottye’s (who happened to pass away 2 weeks after Mark) wrote a paraphrase of the 23rd Psalm in their honor, when the church recognized Mark and Dottye as Laypersons of the Year in 2007. (Mona focused on the many “Dumpster Days” we had when cleaning the church.)
The Lord Is Our Shepherd (First Baptist Edition)
Mark and Dottye are our shepherds,
We shall not want.
As they lead us to the Dumpster in the parking lot,
They also lead us to the attic.
They restore our souls with a smile,
So, they lead us through the paths of the basement
and furnace rooms, for our own sake.
As we sweep through the dust and cobwebs of First Baptist,
We will not fear them, For Mark and Dottye are with us.
Their coffee and brownies, they comfort us.
They prepare PB&J sandwiches for us,
in the presence of a job well done.
They anoint our hands with blisters, and our backs with many aches.
Surely goodness and mercy shall be with us
As we follow Mark and Dottye all the days of our lives.
And we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
(Paraphrase of Psalm 23 by Mona Hatch in honor of Mark and Dottye Foxon, Laypersons of the Year 2007, First Baptist Church, Malden MA.)
Dottye was instrumental in starting and overseeing the church’s scholarship program from its inception. Her role as Chairperson for the church’s scholarship program made possible the continued annual grants for young church members’ education.
With her gift to write, Dottye published in a booklet, The History of First Baptist Church on May 1979 which covers the church’s establishment on December 27, 1803, to year 1978 which is the church’s 175th Founding Anniversary.
Mark and Dottye were married 69 years. In retirement, they spent their winters in Florida and established a church home there. They also enjoyed travel and made friends around the globe. Dottye is preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Mark Foxon on December 8, 2020.
Those wishing to honor Dorothy may send donations in her name to the Sawtelle Family Hospice House, c/o Beth Israel Lahey Health at Home, 600 Cummings Center, Suite 270X, Beverly, Ma. 01915.
The memorial Service in honor of Dottye Foxon was held in First Baptist Church, Malden, MA. on June 29, 2022. To listen please click here.