After a long and happy life, Ruth Anne (Kemp) Dykeman died on Aug. 7, 2024, at Liberty Commons in Chatham. She was 98.
Ruth Anne was born in Weymouth on May 27, 1926 to Ruth Dinsmoor Kemp and Emory Leopold Kemp. She grew up in Weymouth and Hingham.
As a child, she spent summers in Wellfleet at the “camp” her father built on a peninsula on Long Pond.
At Hingham High School, senior Kenneth Blakeley caught her eye and won her heart. They married young and had five children. Kenneth was a pilot in the Army Air Corps in World War II. After the war, they settled in Wellfleet. Their son Brian dubbed their place “The Farm” because of all the animals Kenneth brought home, including Ferdinand the bull, Daisy the cow, Tinkerbell the goat, and many dogs, chickens, and pigs. Though the marriage ended, their friendship endured.
In 1956, Ruth Anne married Howard Dykeman, whom she had known since high school. They had three children together and made a home overlooking Drummer Cove, where they had three cottages that they rented out seasonally.
Ruth Anne and Howie bought the Monument Drive-In in Provincetown (now 9 Ryder) in the early 1960s and ran it successfully for 18 years, recruiting most of the children to work there. In 1978, they bought the Highlander Cocktail Lounge in North Truro, where Ruth Anne enjoyed bartending and getting to know the Truro regulars who became good friends.
After selling the two businesses, she worked as a hostess at Pilgrim’s Kitchen and Serena’s Restaurant. She loved everyone she worked with, and many affectionately called her “Mom.” Her co-workers were like a second family to her.
Ruth Anne was a longtime member of the Congregational Church in Wellfleet, joining the choir in October 1946 and continuing for 72 years. She was also a founding member of the Needlecraft Club. She brought her children, the Blakely relatives, and any others she could round up to the church’s Sunday school.
Her hobbies included rug hooking, which she taught for 10 years, and being a contributor to the “Confidential Chat” column in the Boston Globe. Having come from a family with artistic talents, she began painting in her later years, creating gifts for all her children and grandchildren.
When she was 80, she wrote her memoir to preserve some of the old family stories, giving copies to everyone in the family for Christmas. She also enjoyed cooking, especially desserts — her eclairs were unparalleled.
Ruth Anne was a dedicated volunteer at the polls. In an online remembrance, former Town Clerk Dawn Rickman wrote: “I loved having her work for me at all the Wellfleet elections for many faithful years.” She also enjoyed working on political campaigns.
Ruth Anne was a devoted mother of eight and took life as it came. She would jump at the chance to have fun, go out to dinner or, better yet, go dancing. She loved celebrating holidays, birthdays, weddings, and bonfires, and always enjoyed her afternoon “7&7” cocktail. She felt blessed that most of her children lived nearby, so she had the pleasure of watching her grandchildren grow up.
Through the years, Ruth Anne remained close to her first husband, Kenneth, his wife, Judy, and their three children, Patricia, Kenny, and Richard, bringing the blended family count to 11.
Her family is grateful for the care she received at Liberty Commons and she, too, was always thanking those who attended her for their help and kindness.
Ruth Anne is survived by her children: Brian and wife Terry Blakeley of New Haven, Conn.,
Stephanie and husband Roger Gill of Eastham, Linda Blakeley of Orleans, Holly and husband David Lajoie of Wellfleet, and Heather Meredith and partner Bill von Thaden of Wellfleet; son-in-law Deken Schmidt of Livermore, Maine; daughters-in-law Dawn Dykeman of Wellfleet and Candi Blakeley of Dennis; grandchildren Felicity Blakeley of East Hampton, Conn., Betsy and husband Dennis Dempfey of Cos Cob, Conn., Kayte Curtis and partner Rob Krauszer of Tewksbury, Andrew Schmidt and fiancée Anna Capaldi of Newport, R.I., Anna Blakeley and husband Michael Andersen of Jamestown, R.I, Benjamin Schmidt of Jamestown, R.I, Brielle Tryggestad of Berwick, Maine, and Rachael Graham of Orleans; and great-grandchildren Dylan, Blakeley, Taylor, Violet, and Salvatore. Ruth Anne was also “Grammy” to Kiri, Victor, Sadie, Brooklyn, Lindsey, Jake, and Skylar, and a special aunt to many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by three of her children: Vicki Schmidt, Howard Dykeman, and Scott Blakeley, and by her seven-year-old great-granddaughter Anabelle, who all died of cancer.
A celebration of Ruth Anne’s life will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 6 at the First Congregational Church, 200 Main St., Wellfleet. Burial at Oakdale Cemetery will be private.
Following the service, to honor Ruth Anne’s wishes, an afternoon of socializing, music, and dancing will take place at Wellfleet Preservation Hall.
Donations in Ruth Anne’s memory can be made to the First Congregational Church of Wellfleet or the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk.
