Josephine S. Bryer, 91 (almost 92), of Wiscasset, passed away peacefully at her home on Nov. 11 after being diagnosed with colon cancer in May of this year.
Born in Boston, Mass. on Dec. 7, 1915, she was the daughter of Ralph Edward and Frances Elizabeth Clarke.
She graduated from Ashland High School in Ashland, Mass. in 1933, 1st Honor Essayist. Jo also took the one-year course at Chandler Secretarial School in Boston, Mass. and from there had various office jobs.
Married in 1935, she was a colorist and personal secretary for Wallace Nutting, a famous furniture designer and manufacturer in Framingham, Mass. Then during WWII she ran the office at an airport that trained fighter pilots. Jo was also secretary to the president of the Roger Babson financial advisory company, designing the Eager Beaver logo adopted for the Babson Business College.
She and her family were members of the Congregational Church in Sherborn, Mass. She served on the Town of Sherborn Advisory Board. Further, she was active with her husband, John G. Bryer, Inc. building contracting business, Sherborn, Mass.; co-owner of Bryer & Hardigan, Inc. real estate, Sherborn, Mass. (Grace D. Hardigan, Ptnr.) 15 years; 23-year member of Ridge Rollaways Square & Round Dance Club, Sebring, Fla.; and 20-year charter member Vagabonds Square Dance Camping Club, Sebring, Fla. She also served as president for both clubs and organized the Vagabonds. She served as the newspaper reporter for both clubs during most of that time. During retirement years of winters in Sebring, Fla., she and her husband were members and avid enthusiasts of square dance and square dance camping clubs there, dancing until John suffered a stroke at 82.
In 2002, Jo was a trustee and the secretary of Wiscasset Senior Center Board of Trustees and newspaper reporter for the Wiscasset Senior Center until June 2007. She also served on Wiscasset Transportation Committee. In 2004, she was the founder and a board director of the Wiscasset Senior Center Scholarship Fund, Inc., a fund only for students interested in learning a trade, business or any other hands-on career. This was Jo s pride and joy; Where would this world be without people who know how to work with their hands in a skillful trade, she always used to say.
Even after retiring, they both worked, remodeling the two different homes where they lived in Sebring, Fla. During the many years of owning several summer properties in North Edgecomb, they bought and restored the early 1800 s so-called Adams Inn on the Eddy Road.
Never a hidden agenda, never a mean spirit, always positive thoughts of her fellow townspeople and the direction of this town, Jo will be missed dearly by many.
Now, once again united with her beloved husband John, Jo leaves three daughters Sandra L. Bryer of Marlboro, Mass., Suzanne R. Bryer-Ayers and husband Norval of Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, and Syl D. (Priscilla) Bryer Manlove and husband Howard of La Salle, Col.; son and daughter-in-law, John S. and Janet M. Bryer of Wiscasset; granddaughters, Jillian R. and Laura A. Bryer of Boothbay Harbor and Phippsburg, respectively; grandson, Jacob Lynn Manlove of South Dakota; nephew, David Popp of Dresden; as well as other nieces and nephews in Massachusetts, Michigan, New York State, and Oregon.
Memorial service for family and friends 2 p.m., Sat., Nov. 17 at the Wiscasset Congregational Church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Miles Home Health/Hospice, 40 Belvedere Rd., Damariscotta, ME 04543 and Wiscasset Senior Center Scholarship Fund, Inc., P.O Box 164, Wiscasset, ME 04578.
