Today's Featured Biography

 
Mary Lou Faneuf Dawson

We moved to West Yarmouth from Portland, Maine in 1947 when my parents bought the franchise for Dairy Queens on the Cape. My mother managed the DQ in Falmouth and after a few years Dad built us a house (which now belongs to Dr. Fitch) in Falmouth, right behind the DQ and we moved there after I finished the 6th grade. The only school I ever attended in Falmouth was Lawrence Junior/Senior High.
By the time I was 14 Dad had built a little restaurant between the DQ and our home. He called it the Pic ‘n Lobster and I think it is now the site of Paul’s Pizzeria. I worked in the restaurant until I went to work at Malchman's when I was 17.
I was accepted at the Mass. College of Art and when Mr. Malchman heard I planned to get married instead of going to college, he threatened to fire me so I quit working at Malchman's and after graduating from Lawrence High School, I married Lynn Edward Dawson on September 10, 1960. He was in the Coast Guard, stationed at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. We went on to have 4 wonderful children, 2 lovely daughters-in-law, 7 grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren and 5 step-great grandchildren.
Over the years I did attend college where I majored in art. I have had some interesting jobs including "Arts and Crafts Coordinator and Window Dresser at the Olde Country, Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia and Macy's Department Store in New York City.
We moved here to Florida in 1979 when Lynn retired from the Coast Guard. Our home was built in 1882 and this is our 33rd address. We spend a lot of time redoing stuff that we did 30 years ago on our house!
We are both retired social workers and we spent about 36 years as foster parents. I spent more than 20 years as Chairman of the Interlachen Planning Board. I was Chairman of our Town's Centennial and am one of the charter members of our historical society where I served as president for 7 years. I am still the historian and am proud to have written a book, along with my husband, about the history of Interlachen, Florida. We are also the web masters of the Interlachen Historical Society.
I looked forward to seeing ALL of my class mates this year at the 50th reunion. I have enjoyed talking with all of the people we have located over the past few months and I have to tell you that helping to coordinate this reunion was one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life. It was a magical weekend and although it was meant to be our "last" reunion, everyone is now thinking about the next one. I'll be there, will you?

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