Vivian Gray


COLEBROOK — Vivian (Marsh) Gray, 85, of Sandy Brook Road, died Sept. 29, 2007. She was the widow of Walter J. Gray Sr., to whom she was married on June 19, 1948, in Westfield, Mass.

Born Aug. 27, 1922, in Westfield, she was the daughter of Eva (Shippee) and Noble Marsh. She graduated from Westfield High School in 1941 and attended Westfield State College, where she received her bachelor’s degree in education in 1945. 

She worked part-time at the McClaughlin Store in Westfield. Her first teaching position was in a two-room schoolhouse at Tolland School in Tolland, Mass. She then taught primary grades at Sandisfield (Mass.) School. She settled in Colebrook and continued to work as a substitute teacher at Colebrook Consolidated School before acquiring her full- time position at Bottelle Elementary School, formerly Center School, in September 1968.  She retired from Bottelle in June 1989.

She was a member of the Colebrook Volunteer Fire Department’s Women’s Auxiliary, the Colebrook Congregational Church Women’s Fellowship, Women’s College Club of Litchfield and the Colebrook School Board of Education for eight years. She also taught Sunday school at Colebrook Congregational Church. 

She is survived by her son, Walter "Jon" Gray Jr., and her daughter-in-law, Sherri Gray, of Colebrook; two granddaughters, Rachel Gray and Stephani Gray, both of Colebrook; a sister, May Elizabeth Holcomb of Westfield, Mass.; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by her son, William J. Gray, three brothers and four sisters.

Funeral services were held Oct. 3 at Montano-Shea Funeral Home, Winsted. Memorial donations may be made to the Colebrook Center Volunteer Fire Department. Visit an online guestbook at montano-shea.com.

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