Obituaries

Marian Esther Dickerson Niver

Marian Esther Dickerson Niver
Marian Esther Dickerson Niver

Our loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, Marian Esther Dickerson Niver left us with a song in her heart on June 22 at the age of 93. Her quiet support, quick wit and generous soul will be dearly missed by all. 

Marian, the youngest daughter of 10 children, was born to Albert Tuthill Dickerson and Ethel Wines Boutcher of Southold. She lived most of her life on Long Island close to family, friends and the Long Island Sound where she loved to swim. She was a 1941 graduate of Southold High School followed by secretarial school in Brooklyn where she continued living while working in Manhattan. On Dec. 26, 1945, Marian married her love, Harold C. Niver, a musician, tenor and music teacher. The couple settled on Long Island where they raised a family of four in Glen Cove and then Commack.

Marian always loved her time at the beach and was a voracious reader and worker of crosswords. Always an active alto in the church choir, she also played piano, violin and French horn. She spearheaded the formation of a scholarship committee at the, then new, Commack High School in the mid-60s and in later years, she enjoyed working at the Southold Historical Society and the Methodist Church.

Marian moved west to live with her oldest daughter, Joanne and son-in-law Rick when she could no longer enjoy swimming in the Sound. She spent her final years with them in Ashland, Ore. and Fountain Hills, Ariz. where her life ended after living with breast cancer for three-and-a-half years.

Always a strong and persistent person, she left on her own terms to join her beloved husband Harold and other family and friends where she often repeated “they are saving a seat for me in the alto section of the choir”.

Marian was predeceased by her loving husband Harold C. Niver and her dear granddaughter, Valerie A. Niver. She is survived by her children: Joanne Niver Soued (Rick), Harold Dickerson Niver (Pat), Lori Niver Plair (Luanne Luck) and Glenn Albert Niver (Diane) and her grandchildren: Janet Niver Moon (Alan), Laura Niver Noon (Wayne), Alexander Soued and Joshua Plair. In addition, she will be missed by her older sister Lydia Numbers, her sister-in-law Irene Dickerson, and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

According to Marian’s wishes, there will be a simple graveside gathering in late September when her ashes will be placed in the First Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Southold next to her husband Harold.

Memorial gifts may be made to the “Charles Burnsworth Scholarship” at: State University College at Oneonta Foundation Corp.”, 308 Netzer Administration Bldg., Oneonta, NY 13820. This scholarship goes to a student in-need who is pursuing a degree in music.

This is a paid notice.