GLOUCESTER: Margaret (Spanks) Laurie–Abramo, age 83. Well known Gloucester artist, died September 16, 2012 in her home. She was the wife of the late Dana M. Laurie a highly respected Captain of the Gloucester Fire Department with whom she shared forty-eight years of marriage. She was also the wife of the late Salvatore Abramo. They had enjoyed ten happy years together until his death in 2008.
Born in Gloucester on April 7, 1929, she was the daughter of the late firefighter, John G. and Mary (Alves) Spanks. Margaret was a lifelong resident of Gloucester and attended Gloucester schools. She was a renowned water color artist, teacher and demonstrator. Margaret enjoyed sharing her love of art throughout the years and had taught many workshops locally, as well as in Jefferson, VT, Jackson, NH, Port Clyde and Monhegon Island, ME and various locations in Florida.
There are many watercolor paintings of Margaret’s that are hanging worldwide and are included in three international Art books; “The Best of Water Color book two and three” and “An Art Gallery of Marine Paintings.” Margaret always told her students, “If you can’t feel the spray of the ocean, smell the horrific scent under the wharves at low tide, or enjoy the wonder of the sun in your face, then forget about becoming an artist!” She received many awards over the years and her award for “Best in Show” which she won in Mystic, CT and had been chosen from 450 entries was one of the major awards she was most proud of.
Margaret and her husband, Dana traveled the world. She painted in Spain, England, Italy, Greece, Canada, Scotland, Peru, Ireland, Portugal, Tahiti, New Zealand, Hawaii, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Australia. Margaret’s family and friends will miss her greatly and all that she brought to their lives as well as the art world that she was so happy to be apart of.
Margaret is survived by her three children, Scott Laurie of Gloucester, Capt. Bruce Laurie and his wife, Lisa of Dover, NH, and Jeannine Lynch and her husband, Jeffrey of Gloucester; a loving and special niece, Ramona Hart; seven grandchildren, many great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be held on Friday in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Gloucester at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Margaret’s name to the Gloucester Sawyer Free Library 2 Dale Ave., or to the Rockport Art Association, 12 Main St., Rockport, MA 01966.