Belle Dunwoody Nutter, 94, passed away on May 11 at Cove’s Edge, Damariscotta. She was a former resident of Bradenton, Fla., and Lancaster and Leominster, Mass. She was born July 28, 1914 in Saskatchewan, Canada, the daughter of Henry C.H. and Rose Elda (Fournier) Dunwoody. When she was five, the family moved to Leominster where she graduated from high school in 1933. In 1966 she was certified as a Professional Librarian by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and worked in several local libraries. She completed a postgraduate course for Medicine in 1969, which resulted in her developing the Doctor’s Medical Library at the Leominster Hospital.
Belle and her husband moved to Bradenton, Fla. in 1984 where she was a volunteer at the Manatee County Public Library and a docent in the South Florida museum. She took great pleasure in leading school children on tours to see “Snooty” the manatee. She enjoyed reading, playing bridge, and completing the New York Times crossword. Her family was her first priority. She conveyed her love of books to them and took them on long walks through the woods. She was a warm hostess for family events and social gatherings with friends.
Belle was predeceased by her husband of 52 years, H. Earl Nutter who died in 1987, and two sisters.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Jean and John Janell of Bristol; son, Loren Nutter of Milwaukie, Ore.; four grandchildren, Jeffrey Janell and wife Daisy Dore of Manchester, Jay Janell and wife Mary Paradiso of Fitchburg, Mass., Bruce Nutter of Atlanta, Ga., and Paul Nutter and wife Elaine Nutter of Evans, Col.; two great-grandchildren, Nathan Dore Janell of Manchester, and Wesley Nutter of Evans, Col.; brother, Henry Dunwoody and wife Barbara of Hampden, Mass.; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial service 11 a.m., Wed., May 20 at the Second Congregational Church in Newcastle and a committal service at the Evergreen Cemetery in Leominster, Mass. at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Handicapped Van Fund, c/o Lincoln Home, 22 River Rd., Newcastle, ME 04553, where she was a resident for the past six years.
Arrangements are entrusted to the care of the Strong Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.
