MARY JEAN MEYER

MEYER, Mary Jean A longtime resident of Newton, Massachusetts, Mary Jean (Walker) Meyer passed away peacefully, on October 9, 2025 after an extended illness. Mary was born on August 3, 1941 in Ayrshire, Scotland to Sophia and Joseph Walker. Mary grew up in Scotland but made the journey across the Atlantic at the age of 18 to live and work in New York City. It was there that she met her husband of 59 years, Dr. Jack Meyer, while he was a student at Cornell University Medical College. She completed a B.A. in Psychology at Goddard College in 1982 and a M.A. in Expressive Arts Therapy from Lesley University in 1985. Mary had a long and distinguished career as an expressive arts therapist, helping children who had experienced trauma heal through art. Her advocacy on behalf of abused and neglected children both in her practice and in the courtroom significantly impacted the health and safety of many survivors of child abuse. She shared her expertise on healing children utilizing expressive arts through journal articles, essays, speaking engagements and workshops. Mary will be remembered for her humor and passion for helping those who had experienced trauma in their lives. She loved her garden, her dogs, spending time in Vermont, and was also an avid hiker and adventurer. She spent several summers in her 50s hiking in the Alps, walking across England, and exploring New Zealand. She had the gift of making people feel welcome, seen, and listened to and as a result, helped many who were experiencing difficulties in their lives. She loved to spend time with her only grandchild, Jackson, particularly when it involved art and storytelling. Mary is survived by her husband, Jack; her daughters, Hilary Meyer of Belmont, MA, Heather (Meyer) Reynolds and her husband, T.H. Reynolds; and her grandson, Jackson Reynolds of Saratoga Springs, NY. She was loved by her sisters, brother, and nieces and nephews in both the U.S. and Scotland. A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, November 23, 2025, from 1pm to 3pm, at Henry J. Burke and Sons Funeral Home, 56 Washington St., WELLESLEY, MA. Those wishing to honor Mary's life may make a donation to the trauma clinic, where she worked for many years, Children's Charter Trauma Clinic (A division of Key Program, Inc.) 77 Rumford Ave., Waltham, MA 02453. Online donations can be made through Key Program Inc. at https://www.key.org/childrens-charter Henry J. Burke & Sons BurkeFamilyFuneralHomes.com