Nancy Holmes Anderson Dorwart

SOUTH PULTENEY - Nancy Holmes Anderson Dorwart, 78, died suddenly on Feb. 8. Born June 19, 1928 in Philadelphia, she attended Germantown High School and later Drexel University where she met and married her husband of 59 years, Robert Dorwart.

They moved to Corning in 1948, where she continued her education at Cornell University. After the birth of her four children, the family moved to Harrodsburg, Kentucky, in 1964 where she graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1966 with a degree in English Literature.

Nancy and Bob returned with their family to New York, this time with several horses in tow, to settle on their "Hill Farm" in South Pulteney in 1967. They restored the 19th century farm house and raised thorough bred horses for racing and put four kids through college. Over the course of the next 40 years, Nancy turned the barren farm grass in to landscaped flowers beds, rose gardens featuring more than 300 roses, vegetable gardens and orchards. During her time in South Pulteney, she was the editor of the "Vineyard View," co-authored several cookbooks and was a museum volunteer at the Curtiss Museum. She was an avid ornithology enthusiast and actively birded all over the Finger Lakes Region, including an on going and active participation in annual bird counts. She also devoted considerable time to her children and her extended family.

She was predeceased by her youngest daughter, Colly Leech, of Warwick. She is survived by her husband, Robert, of South Pulteney; Brian Dorwart of New Boston, New Hampshire; Darcy Dorwart of Rochester; Scott Dorwart of Stowe, Vermont; 13 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Other survivors include 30 chickens, four horses, three cats and her devoted yellow Labrador, "Hoover." Her career was eternal motion and her successes great in her care of animals, including the relocation of gray squirrels, and most especially her flower gardens that brought light to everyone they touched.

Calling hours were held at the LaMarche Funeral Home in Hammondsport, on Feb. 12, from 2-5 pm. A service was held at the St . Luke's Episcopal Church in Branchport, on Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, well wishers can make donations to Breast Cancer research .