Somerset - Dorothy Robbins Gifford Curtis died on January 1, 2008 at Clifton Rehabilitative Nursing Center in Somerset, MA. She was predeceased by her first husband, Norman Lowe Gifford, by her second husband, Mahlon George Curtis and by her sister, Patricia Robbins. Mrs. Curtis was born December 2, 1910 in Boston, MA, daughter of Charles M. Robbins and Minnie Swint Robbins. She attended Southern Seminary in Virginia and graduated from Westport, MA High School, Bradford Junior College in Bradford, MA and Pratt Institute School of Fine and Applied arts in Brooklyn, NY, majoring in textile design. She also studied art independently with Tseng Hsien-Chi, Stephen Olszewski, Herbert Hadfield, Dennis Broadbent and Alden Wicks.
For most of her life Mrs. Curtis was an artist, doing textile design in New York, interior decorating in Florida and with the C.F. Wing Co. in New Bedford, MA. During WWII she served as a draftsman with the Army Corps of Engineers in Providence, RI, a driver for the Women’s Army Corps and an airplane spotter. After the war she worked as an advertising artist with the Christian Science Monitor, owner of one handicraft shop and manager of another. She also assisted her mother in running a successful gift shop and tea room at their charming Cape Cod home, now in the Westport Point Historic District.
After her marriage to Mr. Gifford, Mrs. Curtis retired from commercial work and turned to freelance landscape and floral painting, for which she received several awards. She was a frequent contributor to WGBH Channel 2 art auctions. Her artwork has been shown in exhibitions in Florida, New York and southeastern New England. Her paintings are in many private collections throughout the United States.
Mrs. Curtis was also a published writer and award-winning poet. She wrote The Chimney Cupboard, a weekly column in the Westport News for about three years, as well as occasional articles for the New Bedford Standard Times, the Dartmouth (MA) Chronicle, the Westport Shorelines and the Westport News. She participated actively in the Seniors Writing Seminar sponsored by the Westport Council on Aging.
Mrs. Curtis lived much of her life in Westport Point, MA, especially the last half. She was a founder, past president and some say the spirit of the Westport Art Group. As part of their 50th anniversary celebration, the Art Group honored Mrs. Curtis by presenting a one-artist show of her paintings in 2006. She was also an active member of the Westport Historical Society and a former member of the Providence Watercolor Society, Newport Art Association and Museum, Fall River Art association, Whaling Museum of New Bedford, Westport River Watershed Alliance and the Order of the Eastern Star. She was a member of the First Church of Christ, Scientist Congregations in New Bedford and Boston. Her other interests included gardening, dancing, water sports and music. One of her favorite musical activities was attending concerts at Westport Point United Methodist Church.
She is survived by her step-son, Wayne C. Curtis of Westport; her step-daughter, Marilyn J. Holmes of Wareham, MA; her niece, Sallie A. Cartwright and husband Dr. Richard V. Cartwright of Sykesville, MD; her nephew, Dr. David A. Newton and wife Margaret of Weston, MA; her grand-nieces Dr. Merrie A. Cartwright and husband David S. DeSchuiteneer of Yarmouth, ME; and several cousins, step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at Westport Point United Methodist Church, 1912 Main Rd., Westport Point, MA on January 5, 2008 at 2:00 P.M.
Private interment will be in Beech Grove Cemetery in Westport.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be donated to the Westport Art Group, PO Box 157, Westport Point, MA 02791 or to Westport Historical Society, Inc., PO Box N-188, Westport, MA 02790.