Priscilla J Meyette

Priscilla Jones Meyette, 79, of Lancaster, passed away peacefully at home on February 11, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family and friends after a courageous battle with cancer. She would want you to know that she had a wonderful life.

She was born in Scranton, PA on March 10, 1945, the daughter of Mary Elizabeth (Betsy) and Harold Jones. She earned a scholarship to Vassar College where she studied English and Art History and then joined the Philadelphia Inquirer as a copywriter in the advertising department. There she met Bob Dodson, whom she married in 1969.

The couple moved to Texas in 1972 and had two sons, David (Ronald Hanson) and Scott (Kelly). They divorced in 1981.

Priscilla’s strength was forged in the realization that to provide a better life for her sons, she needed to advance her career. Working in retail for women’s fashion chains, she secured six promotions over six years and was able to relocate her family to Pennsylvania to be close to her mother, her siblings, and her nieces and nephews. She always valued being born into a family where her parents made sure all their children knew they were loved and could grow up to be anything they wanted to be, and she worked very hard to give her sons the same assurances and opportunities.

After her sons were out of the house, another career opportunity presented itself and she relocated to San Diego, CA to work in human resources. There she met Donald Meyette and impressed him with her spirit and her chicken nachos. They were married from 1992 until his passing in 2011. Her marriage to Don also gave her a bonus daughter, Michelle McCann (Sean) whom she adored.

She earned her SPHR and retired in 2008 as the head of Human Resources for North County Health Services, where she made a difference in the lives of employees and fostered an environment that respects and values both patients and employees. She was deservedly proud of her accomplishments and fulfilled the meaning of Theodore Roosevelt’s famous quote, “Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”

Upon retirement, she and Don split their time between Lancaster and Arizona until Don’s death. They traveled to Australia and New Zealand, throughout the United States and Europe. Her adventures abroad continued with family trips to Iceland and Africa, and trips with friends to Egypt and Jordan, Sri Lanka, and the Caribbean. She collected rocks and minerals throughout her travels and donated her collection to the Geology Department at Vassar College in 2023.

Priscilla had a wonderful life. She had a large and loving family, countless close friends, a fulfilling career, and rewarding hobbies such as reading, bridge, rockhounding, watercolor painting, swimming, travel, volunteering, taking nice walks in nature, and scouting craft shows and quaint stores for gifts for family and friends. She enjoyed pretzels, pork chops, and Pinot Grigio, preferably in the company of those she loved.

Priscilla will be sorely missed by her sons and bonus daughter, grandsons Garrick McCann and Jack Dodson; siblings Barbara Fortney (John Bright), Pam Faust (Ronald), Jeff Jones (Joiann Galiano), Becky Crawford (Jerry), and Matt Jones (Maria); and many nieces, nephews, cousins, grandnieces, grandnephews, and friends. 

A Celebration of Life will follow in late spring where Priscilla’s instructions are to dance like no one is watching.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to one of the many organizations that Priscilla supported including Vassar College, UDS Foundation, Aaron’s Acres, Tenfold, the Lancaster County Food Hub, and CASA of Lancaster and Lebanon Counties.