Arlene “Bunny” Lucas Dean, 74, of Boothbay Harbor, died April 16, 2016.

Bunny was born in Long Branch, New Jersey, on May 7, 1941 to Richard A. and Ruth Marie Lucas.

In 1959 she graduated from Atlantic Highlands High School where she achieved distinction serving as editor of the school newspaper, president of the Press Club, and captain of the varsity cheerleading team and “Yell Squad.” She graduated from Cedar Crest College in Allentown, Pennsylvania with a focus on art and was also a member of the concert choir. Bunny became an accomplished artist of over 150 works, mostly in the acrylic medium. She was an award-winning competitor in exhibitions in Houston, Galveston, Clear Creek and Baytown, Texas; Monmouth County, New Jersey; Eagles Mere, Pennsylvania; and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. She was also active in art guilds in the NASA community in the 1960s after marrying Richard E. Waite of Trenton, New Jersey, a neurophysiologist who worked closely with the astronauts during the manned spacecraft program.

Bunny brought her artistic touch to every home she lived in and those of her family and friends. She had a gentle, elegant grace that exuded love and was a wonderful mother and homemaker. Bunny also had a keen sense of humor and loved to laugh with all those around her. She was a spiritual person and was active in church work. It seemed Bunny could do anything, and had various jobs in the Southeast and Midwest. She worked for the Florida Department of Transportation in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; The Principia School in St. Louis, Missouri; and for Civil Service companies Beech Aerospace and Burnside Ott at N.A.S. Whiting Field in Milton, Florida, where she met her second husband Wayne H. Dean.

Bunny was predeceased by her parents, her brother Robert Lucas, her first husband and daughters Allison Massey Waite and Diane Elizabeth Waite.

She will be greatly missed by her husband, Wayne H. Dean of Defuniak Springs, Florida; daughter, Lynda Bayne, son-in-law Bob and granddaughter Jessica of Tequesta, Florida; daughter, Debbie Moorefield, son-in-law Hal of Boothbay and his daughters Michelle, Mary and Amy; stepdaughter, Michele Stropoli of Milton, Florida, grandson Chris and granddaughter Cali, both of Lake Mary, Florida; stepdaughter, Kim Sandidge, her husband Ray and grandsons Johnathon and Jason of Milton, Florida. Bunny will also be missed by cousins, Patricia Wilks, her husband Max and their children Terry, John, Cathy and David of Milton, Florida; Lois Ryzckowski, her husband Joe and their children Ricky, Joey and Jamie of Trenton, New Jersey; Ruth Casey, her husband Brian and their children Danny, Andrew and Matthew of Milton, Florida; and sister-in-law, Susan Waite Fekete of Cape Coral, Florida and her children Bill Richards of Ladson, South Carolina and Kelly Carr of Point Pleasant, New Jerset; her sister-in-law, Adrianne Lucas of Tuxedo Park, New York and her son Richard Lucas, his wife Karen and their son Max of Carey, North Carolina; and all of their families.

Bunny was lovingly cared for by the many members of the staff at St. Andrews Village; the angels of Miles & St. Andrews Home Health & Hospice; and the compassionate companions volunteers of St. Andrews Village Gregory Wing.

A celebration of Bunny’s life will be held at St. Andrews Village on Saturday, April 23 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation by calling 203-229-0464 (or online at www.themmrf.org) or to the charity of your choice.

Arrangements are under the care of Direct Cremation of Maine, 182 Waldo Avenue, Belfast. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.directcremationofmaine.com.