Dorothy L. Yakovakis

Dorothy Lane (Graves) Yakovakis, 88, of Venice, FL, passed away peacefully after a long illness, at her summer home in York, Maine, surrounded by family on March 16, 2023. Dottye was born in Ellisville, Mississippi on September 7,1934 to Maxine Donald Graves and Lyman Carl Graves. From an early age, Dottye excelled in the arts. She enjoyed music in many school and church choirs, as well as writing and leading theatrical productions from the time she was at Henderson State Teachers College in Arkansas, to the time her own children could participate in elementary school performances. She was a hands-on volunteer lending her leadership, creativity, and enthusiasm to PTOs and committees to help her children's school and her beloved Unitarian Universalist Church in Manchester. She was also the church secretary for several years. Dottye possessed a clever sense of humor and this often showed in her written works including poems, letters, and speeches. In addition to creating Smitty, the Smyth Road School mascot, she went on to be known for her incredible artistry as a painter and watercolorist. Her subjects ranged from furry friends and still lifes to the historic Manchester Millyards and her grandchildren. She created enormously detailed painted "stories" on authentic retired lobster buoys. She was invited to show several of her watercolor works at Whistler House Museum of Art in Lowell, MA, which was well attended and received. Dottye was a member of Alpha Sigma Tau sorority at Henderson State University in Arkansas and went on to received her master's at the University of Arkansas. She taught school in Little Rock, AR, France, Augsburg, Germany, Montclair, NJ and Manchester, NH. She was also a bookkeeper and office manager for her beloved husband Jim's law practice in Manchester for many years until he retired. Dottye and Jim had a lifetime of adventures together beginning when they first met in Germany while he was in the armed services and she was teaching American children on Army bases. They traveled throughout Europe and married when they returned to the states. They were married for a truly blissful 61 years. Joyful, grateful, funny, and kind, Dottye is greatly missed by her many friends and family. Dottye is survived by her husband, James Steven Yakovakis, her daughter Andrea Lane Yakovakis of Cambridge, MA, her daughter Laura Danos and her husband Jon of Hampton Falls, NH and their three children Christopher, Luca, and Ava, and her sister-in-law Judy Graves - all of whom she simply adored. She also leaves many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister Peggy Sue Graham and Peggy's husband, George Graham, as well as her brother, Carl Graves. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Amedisys Foundation at 3854 American Way, Baton Rouge, LA, 70816. Or please donate to UNH via the Yakovakis Family Fund, which was established in 2008, to assist students in financial need. To make a donation online, visit UNH.edu/give. Click "Give to UNH", then click "Select Multiple Funds", scroll to the bottom and select "other" at the bottom. Write in "Yakovakis Family Fund" and complete the transaction. Or, you may mail a check made payable to the UNH Foundation to 9 Edgewood Drive, Durham, NH 03824. Write 'Yakovakis Family Fund" in the memo line of the check. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2pm on May 20, 2023 at the Foster's Restaurant, 5 Axholme Road, York, ME 03909.

Dorothy L. Yakovakis

September 7, 1934 - March 16, 2023