Dorothy Louise (Horsman) Hesketh

Mom’s story  
Dorothy Louise (Horsman) (Williams) Hesketh, age 100 years, 6 months, passed away peacefully 
on Saturday, June 26, at Nemasket Health Care Center, Middleboro, MA.  The family wishes to 
express appreciation to the staff at Nemasket Health Care who provided care for Dorothy during 
a challenging time in our lives.

  Dorothy was the daughter of the late Paul R. and Martha Horsman and the wife of Harold H. 
“Buzzie” Williams who predeceased her in 1982.  Her dear daughter Louise Ann Carberry 
predeceased her in 2020.  Dorothy is also predeceased by her former husband, George Clifford 
Hesketh in 2010. 

Born in Wareham on December 26, 1920, Dorothy graduated from Middleborough High School 
where she was a cheerleader and played trombone in the band. She treasured friendships with 
her classmates and was often instrumental in planning annual class reunions.  She spent most of 
her life in Middleboro where she worked at St. Luke’s Hospital (Middleboro), as business 
manager at Oak Hill Nursing Home and Meadowview Nursing Home.  Dorothy helped with 
family businesses in South Middleboro including Williams Trading Post and her very own South 
Middleboro Country Store.   In South Middleborough, Dorothy was active in many community 
organizations including the South Middleborough United Methodist Church and South 
Middleborough Protective Association.  Dot was key in forming the South Middleborough 
Skating Club at Hunt’s Pond on the Williams property.  Winters at “the Pond” brought forth the 
entire neighborhood for winter fun on ice.  Dorothy carried her love for skating well into her 
eighties with ice dancing and determined practice of her “figure eights”. 

After retiring, Dorothy moved to our family home in the mountains located in the Mount 
Washington Valley, Albany, NH., where family and friends traveled many miles in winter, spring, 
summer, and fall to embrace the love and affection that Dorothy extended to everyone.  One of 
the signs that Dorothy posted at the “NH House” stated: “If you are lucky enough to live in the 
mountains, you are lucky enough!”  The following quote in Dorothy’s own words sums up her 
feelings for her home in the mountains, a place of beauty and tranquility:  “I have stood at the 
back window, or in the back yard thousands of times, seeing in awesome wonder all of the 
changing beauty--of winter, with snow cover, birches laden to the ground. Or with ice, sparkling 
on every branch, twig and pine needle; with early morning or late day alpenglow on Moat 
Mountain.  Spring, with increasing color of bulbs and perennials…. And foliage and vibrant color 
in fall.  That is where I say my daily prayers.”  Dorothy was a voluminous writer having 
documented family histories, personal stories, and diaries.  There is much to be gleaned from 
her writings. 

While in New Hampshire Dorothy attended Conway and Center Conway United Methodist 
 Church and found welcoming friends in the church and at the Gibson Center for Senior Services 
in North Conway.  Dorothy learned to ski late in life at her favorite ski area “Tyrol” where her 
son John worked as a ski coach, Dorothy enjoyed skiing well into her seventies and especially 
loved cross country skiing on the trails at the “NH House”.  Gardening and baking were 
Dorothy’s favorite activities, and these brought joy to everyone.  In later years Dorothy became 
a passionate supporter of all New England Sports teams, always cheering them on. 
As the matriarch of her family, Dorothy was at her glowing best when surrounded by warmth 
and shared love of extended family and friends at her homes in South Middleboro and Albany, 
New Hampshire.  Large gatherings of family and friends assembled at our NH house in 
celebration of Christmas and summer vacations.  Dorothy’s chocolate sauce, prepared for these 
occasions, was the “best in the world”.  Silly games and songs around the fireplace or campfire 
would have everyone in stitches.  Dorothy had a warm, loving laugh that would ignite the spirit 
of everyone around her. 

 Dorothy is survived by her brother Paul R. Horsman, Jr. and his wife Lois; her daughter, Martha 
Dupuis and her husband, Gary Williams; her sons John Williams; and Nathaniel Williams and his 
wife, Cheryl.   Along with her cousins, Jean Cronin and Nancy Perry, Dorothy is also survived by 
her son-in-law, David Carberry, five grandchildren, four great grandchildren and a very large 
extended family including grandchildren Guy Dupuis; Timothy McGrath; Peter McGrath; Erica 
Tsuchiya; and Travis Williams all of whom will miss her very much.  Dorothy will be missed by 
her great grandchildren, Stephanie McGrath and her husband Timothy Green; and Michael 
McGrath; and great grandchildren, and nieces and nephews around the globe who were 
treasured and loved by her.  Very important to Dorothy throughout her life were her many cats 
and dogs, and “grand pets” that she cared for throughout her years--especially “Blackie”, her 
last adopted dog and “Smudgie”, a feral cat who adopted her. 

 A celebration of life is being planned to be held at the Freetown Congregational Christian 
Church, 4 Washburn Rd., East Freetown, MA, 11 a.m. on Saturday July 31. 

Donations in memory and in celebration of Dorothy’s life may be made to The Gibson Center for 
Senior Services, 14 Grove St., North Conway, NH 03860 (www.gibsincenter.org) or the Richard 
Tom Foundation, a foundation formed by her son John to celebrate the life and spirit of Richard 
Tom who was lost at a young age while cycling (www.richardtomfoundation.com), or a charity 
of your choice. 
 
 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dorothy Louise (Horsman) Hesketh, please visit our floral store.