Anne Eaton Parker, age 98, died May 1, 2017. Anne was a prolific artist, musician, reader, and fierce advocate for human rights, environmental protection, animal welfare, and all social justice issues. Anne moved to her West Tisbury home in 1968 from Williamstown.
She was born in Cleveland, Ohio, to Joseph Oriel Eaton II and Edith Ide Eaton. After graduation from Bennington College in 1941, she married (Henry) Whitney Dodge. Her marriage to Whitney ended in divorce. Her second marriage, to Carleton H. Parker in 1955, lasted until his death in 1985.
Anne was predeceased by her parents, and by her seven siblings, Edith French Dewey, Caroline French, Winsor French, Ted French, Joseph O. Eaton III, Margaret Eaton Taplin, and Martha Eaton Hickox. Anne was also predeceased by her son Whitney Dodge and her stepdaughter Josephine Parker Alexander. She is survived by children Carol Dodge Davis, Grenville Mellen Dodge, and Elizabeth Parker Nitchie; and by stepchildren Carl Parker, Hester Jeswald, James Parker, and Carolyn Kerns; grandchildren and step-grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and many nieces and nephews.
Anne’s life work is in her many paintings and sculptures. Her art was exhibited in numerous galleries, schools, and museums in Massachusetts, Princeton, New York, Chautauqua, N.Y., Brattleboro, Vt., and Montreal, and on the Vineyard. For her show at the Brattleboro Museum of Art, the chief curator wrote, “I invite each visitor to enter the intellectual and sensuous world of Anne Eaton Parker — to delight in her puckish sense of humor, to be touched by her vision, and to marvel at the breadth of her artistic achievement.”
Anne was able to stay in her beloved Vineyard home until one day before her death, thanks to special friends Michael and Courtney; loving caregivers Marie, Kitty, Amy, and Klara; and Lori, June, and Scout of Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard. Her days were filled with people who loved her, music and opera, cats who needed to be let out or in, cardinals at the birdfeeder, trips out most days to feed horses at Rising Tide, and visits from various dog friends. Positivity, humor and engagement were her secret weapons against old age. Her family is grateful to this amazing team of folks (and cats, dogs, and horses) for enriching her final years.
Anne was predeceased by her parents, and by her seven siblings, Edith French Dewey, Caroline French, Winsor French, Ted French, Joseph O. Eaton III, Margaret Eaton Taplin, and Martha Eaton Hickox. Anne was also predeceased by her son Whitney Dodge and her stepdaughter Josephine Parker Alexander. She is survived by children Carol Dodge Davis, Grenville Mellen Dodge, and Elizabeth Parker Nitchie; and by stepchildren Carl Parker, Hester Jeswald, James Parker, and Carolyn Kerns; grandchildren and step-grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and many nieces and nephews.
Anne was vocal and passionate about all liberal and humanitarian causes, large and small. To honor her memory, contributions may be made to Family Planning of Martha’s Vineyard, Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard, the Island Housing Trust, or to the charity of one’s choice.
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