Obituary of Elizabeth Hunt Gray

Elizabeth Hunt Decker Gray passed away un-expectedly on October 24th at the age of 92. She was pre-deceased by her husband Dr. William Gray, Jr. in 1961 and was the daughter of the late Mary Elizabeth and Frank Alexander Decker of Providence, RI and Thompson, CT. A Celebration of Life was held at a private memorial service at the Congregational Church of Putnam, CT and she was interred next to her husband in the Grove Street Cemetery in Putnam. She is survived by Lydia Smith and her husband Bill of Gardnerville, NV, Judith Quattrucci of Stoughton, MA, William Gray, Jr. and Lynn of Andover MA, Jack Gray and Claire of West Tisbury, MA, Sward Lockwood previously of South Dartmouth, MA, 13 grand-children and their spouses, 18 great-grandchildren, sister Faith D. Rafferty of Brookline, CT and her daughter Patricia DeWolf of Westerly, RI and cousin Nancy Ebbs of Thompson, CT. She was pre-deceased by her brother Frank A Decker, Jr. Betty was born in Providence and graduated from Lincoln School in Providence and Mount Vernon Seminary in Washington, DC. She lived on the east side of Providence and spent summers in Thompson as a child. On June 26, 1936 she married William Gray, Jr. of Latrobe, PA who had recently moved to Putnam to practice dentistry. Some of the committees she was on at the Putnam Congregational Church included Building Fund as chairman, Board of Trustees member, Sunday school teacher and long time member and officer of her Womens Fellowship Group II. In the community she was an active servant on various boards and committees. She volunteered with the Visiting Nurse Association and was an Organizer of the Red Cross Disaster Committee. As a member of the Putnam Board of Education, she served on the building committee for a new high school. She was active in bringing the Girl Scouts Program to Putnam and was on the Girl Scout Committee for many years. She also served as a member of the Town and City Planning & Zoning Commission. Most recently she was instrumental in bringing the play The Boxcar Children to Putnam for the enjoyment of the school children of the town. This play was adapted from the first book in a series written by Putnams first grade teacher Gertrude Warner and culminated in the establishment of The Boxcar Museum in Putnam. Since1965 her summers were spent at her Oak Bluffs cottage on Marthas Vineyard Island which became the focal point of family gatherings. Many members of her extended family spent their vacation time with her. All who visited will remember her lingering goodbyes from her doorstep. The magical draw of the Vineyard had its effect on the growing family and several of her children and grandchildren have built homes here. She was an active participant in the church services on the island and later became a member of the Board of Directors of the Methodist Camp Meeting Association from 1983-1993. She participated in all Tabernacle events throughout her years and hosted several Tabernacle event participants e.g. Up with People, several guest ministers as well as some of the RI chorus groups that visited often. Betty was influential in raising the Campground Museum concept to the Association and became the Curator of the first museum on Rock Avenue. For several years she was actively finding period furniture of the early1900s to furnish the museum. This site also hosted guest ministers of the Tabernacle. On the Vineyard she was acknowledged for her contributions to the campground by lighting the ceremonial first candle of Illumination Night in 1997. One of her more memorable times on the island was acting as an extra in the 1993 movie The Bostonian with Christopher Reeves. During her life she enjoyed sailing and had never been known to turn down a boat ride. She was a member of the Garden Club, East Chop Beach Club and the East Chop Yacht Club. Always very family minded she never missed an opportunity to get family together, usually on the island and often at an afternoon/evening beach party. She has hosted all large family Christmas celebrations for the past 45 years in Putnam. She was an active traveler, including visits earlier this year to Antigua, CA and NV. As she enjoyed sailing, for her 90th birthday party the family honored Nana by producing a surprise musical production highlighting many of her lifes events. The family buckled down for several months of secret planning, producing and rehearsing the theme If I Had a Ship. The outdoor stage, complete with a real sailboat, set the tone for what became a magical if somewhat comical voyage through her life. The two hour event was recounted in words, song and active skits performed by her children. At its conclusion Nana bravely took her place at the helm and surrounded by her crew of more than fifty offspring, their partners and guests seemed eager to press on to the next adventure. At this tribute was a display of 500 photos of various family members and functions throughout her life. The production was for her entertainment and for her grandchildren to learn more about their beloved Nana. All who knew her, as a brave, caring, selfless, graceful and elegant lady with cheerful hospitality will miss her. She was Nana to all that met her and was a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her stoic Yankee independence guided her throughout her long rewarding life. Donations in Bettys memory may be made to Marthas Vineyard Camp Meeting Association Tabernacle Restoration Fund, P.O. Box 1176, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557 or The American Red Cross, Charter Oak Chapter of CT, 209 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06032. http://charteroak.redcross.org. Funeral arrangements were made by Smith & Walker. You are welcome to visit www.smithandwalkerfh.com to sign the online Guest Book.