Dorothy "Dorrie" Wynkoop Bean, 91, passed away at Emerson Hospital in Concord, Massachusetts on June 16, 2023. Dorrie was born on March 23, 1932 to Dorothy (Puffer) Ernst and Clayton Ernst in Newton, Massachusetts.

She described herself as a lifelong New Englander, having grown up in Wellesley, Massachusetts and then moving to Concord in 1958, where she lived for the rest of her life. Dorrie graduated from Colby Jr. College in 1951 and married Clifford (Bump) Bean in 1954. Bump and Dorrie went right to work and had four daughters within four years: Meredith, twins Deborah and Cathryn, and Julia. They raised their daughters in a big old Victorian home on the Concord River.

Dorrie loved hiking in the White Mountains and told many stories of her teenage antics at the AMC high huts in New Hampshire. She taught her girls how to ski and had many happy years at Sunapee Ski resort and Hodge Podge Lodge with family friends. After breaking her leg downhill skiing, she became an avid cross-county skier. She was also an accomplished seamstress and taught her daughters how to sew their own clothes.

Dorrie was a world traveler and especially enjoyed hiking or walking tours and small ship cruises. With her husband, friends, or daughters she traveled to New Zealand, Kenya, France, Switzerland, England, Russia, Bahamas, Tahiti, Norway, Egypt and Bermuda. But her favorite place in the world was her beloved family camp on Bear Island, Lake Winnipesaukee, where she spent every summer of her life.

Friends have described Dorrie as diminutive but formidable and remarkable. She knew what she believed in, acted upon her beliefs with confidence, and was willing to put in the work. She was actively involved with many community nonprofits, dedicating countless hours of her life to 51 Walden (formerly FOPAC) over 50 years and the Concord-Carlisle Scholarship Fund over 31 years. She worked for 17 years in geriatrics for the Concord Family Service.

Dorrie was a very generous gift-giver and card-writer right up to the very end. Everyone she knew had a collection of beautiful or comical cards from her. Her sense of humor was enjoyed by many. She loved cutting out New Yorker cartoons and sending them to appropriate recipients. And she had many favorite quotes that she collected like: "You know you are old when you've lost your marvels" (Mary Browne). She always thought it hilarious that when she announced her first pregnancy to her mother, her response was "you can't be pregnant, you've never even babysat!"

Dorrie was a voracious reader of books, newspapers and the New Yorker. She was an enthusiastic cook and host, and loved to cook delicious seafood dinners. She generously made and gave away her favorite cookies, Benne Wafers, and especially loved dark chocolate. She had a passion for the color blue, which matched her eyes, and she prided herself in dressing well in blues.

Dorrie was predeceased by her husband Clifford Bean, her daughters Cathryn and Deborah, and her sister Eleanor Thompson.

She is survived by her daughters Meredith Eley, and husband Donald of Blue Hill, Maine, Julia Bean and her partner Steve Lawrence of Dover, New Hampshire, and "adopted son" Elias Towe of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; grandchildren Chris McClellan, Conor Sass, Kate Mick, Samuel Eley and Benjamin Eley; great-grandson Sawyer McClellan; nieces Pam, Emily and Holly Thompson, nephew Bill Thompson, and her loving care-giver Maria Almeida.

There will be a celebration of Dorrie's life at 51 Walden in Concord, Massachusetts on Saturday September 9th, from 2:00 to 5:00 pm.

Memorial gifts in her honor can be made to: 51 Walden Inc., PO Box 251, Concord, MA 01742; or the Scholarship Fund of Concord and Carlisle/Bean Family Scholarship, 34 Walden Street, Unit 217, Concord, MA 01742.

Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.