Mary Ann "Andy" Dunham

Jan 20, 1928 -

Feb 23, 2026

Alaska artist and teacher Mary Ann "Andy" Dunham died in Anchorage, Alaska, on Feb. 23, 2026. She was born in Houston, Texas, on Jan. 20, 1928, to author Julian and Myrtle Sherrod. She attended North Texas Agricultural College, in Arlington, Texas, then Sam Houston State Teachers College, in Huntsville, from which she graduated with major in art in 1949. There she met her future husband, Jack Dunham, with whom she moved to Pampa, Texas. There she taught at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School. In 1955, the couple moved to Alaska as teachers with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Along with their two children, they lived in Quinhagak, Mountain Village and Togiak, where she sketched and painted a number of portraits of local residents.

In the 1960s Andy taught elementary school in Colorado Springs, Estes Park and Evergreen, Colo., and in Homer and Haines, Alaska. In November 1967, the family moved to Anchorage, where she lived for the rest of her life. She taught at several area schools, receiving the Elmendorf "Teacher of the Year" award and helping to start the Anchorage School District's Gifted Program. She earned a master's degree in education from the University of Alaska Anchorage and retired in 1980.

In retirement she dedicated herself to art, creating paintings, clay sculptures and pottery, mixed media and art using paper she hand-made at her recreational cabin in Seldovia. Throughout the 1970s and '80s her work was regularly included and won awards in statewide exhibitions, including The All Alaska Juried Art Show; Earth, Fire, Fibre; and the Alaska Juried Watercolor Show. One honorable mention, a stoneware teapot, was purchased by the Anchorage Museum. She was the juror for the 1987 Kenai Peninsula Clay exhibition and operated her own art gallery, The Odd Corner. She produced over 100 volumes of journals chronicling her daily activities and travels with thousands of illustrations, and continued to journal and paint until the last few weeks of her life.

Andy was predeceased by her parents; beloved stepfather, Lilbourn Lewis; sister, Jeanne; husband, Jack; daughter, Molly; and the great love of her life, Donald Graves. She is survived by her son, Michael; ad daughter-in-law, Evelyn; grandsons, Samuel and Benjamin and their spouses, Chelsea and Brook; and two great-granddaughters, Lily and Violet — all of Anchorage. Her artwork is on display at Georgia Blue Gallery.

Following her wishes there will be no service. Sentiments or recollections may be sent to P.O. Box 220152, Anchorage, AK 99522.