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IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Catherine Utz

Catherine Utz Gray Profile Photo

Gray

February 19, 1936 – August 3, 2020

Obituary

Catherine Utz Gray, 84 of Sebastian, Florida, passed away at home August 3, 2020
surrounded by her family. She was born February 19, 1936 in Wexford,
Pennsylvania to the late Charles and Portia Utz. Catherine graduated from Mars
High School in 1954 and married Stanley Wayne Gray in Wexford in 1955.
Stan returned to California with Catherine to complete his enlistment and was
discharged from the Navy in 1956. They returned to Pennsylvania where Stan
attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) in Indiana, Pa.
A son, Richard Wayne was born March 25, 1956 and another son, James Alan on
July 7, 1958. Richard died on May 16, 1959 and a third son Douglas Richard was
born April 4, 1960.
Stan graduated from IUP in 1961 and the family moved to Eau Gallie (Melbourne),
Florida where Stan had accepted a teaching position at Melbourne High School.
A daughter, Cynthia Marie was born September 8, 1961.
Catherine began her career in professional day care as the director of Guerin-Dare
in 1962. She returned to night school and earned her Associate Arts Degree from
Brevard Community College and graduated with honors in 1973.
In 1977, the family (except James, who had already graduated from Eau Gallie
High School) moved to Poughkeepsie, NY where Catherine worked at Reinbeck to
open a community day care center for the under-privileged.
In 1979, with their kids graduated and on their own, Stan and Catherine pursued
her dream of starting her own day care. They settled in King, NC where she
opened 'Country Adventure & Child Development' and spent the next 10 years
introducing the children to a sense of purpose and responsibility that was
previously unavailable. The children were introduced to early swimming lessons,
trips to the local library and museum as well as tending to their own gardens where
they sold their harvest at a roadside stand on the property.
It was an idyllic and transformative time in the lives of everyone associated with
the school. Within a few years, Catherine would open another day care for babies
who would eventually move up to the 'Country Adventure' experience when they
reached a certain age.
In 1989, after selling 'Country Adventure', and with the birth of their first
grandchild, Stan and Catherine returned to Eau Gallie, Fl. and purchased a home
across the street from their son Doug who had returned to the area after high
school.
A few years prior, Stan and Catherine had purchased their first motorhome and
began to travel extensively throughout the US.
In 2000, after almost 10 years "full-timing" on the road and having been to almost
every state in the country, they bought 25 acres in Ellijay, Ga. and built Catherine's
dream log home.
Now at 64 and off the road, Catherine put down roots... She threw herself into the
Ellijay community, volunteering at the local library, the arts council, voter
registration and polling, Census taking, demos at Walmart and all manner of
activities.
She and Stan were avid gardeners and participated in the local Farmer's Market as
well as helping out with Thanksgiving meals for those who didn't have a place to
celebrate the holiday.
She planted flowers and trees throughout the property and operated the old Ford
tractor, cutting the meadow and operating a four-wheeler between the house and
the garden. She and Stan were back living on a farm and enjoying another idyllic
phase in their lives.
Three grandchildren would be added to their family within the next 5 years; then
three more and finally two great-grandchildren in the past 6 years.
Life was full and complete, but Stan missed the Florida climate so they decided to
once again go south.
In 2015, Stan and Catherine sold the Ellijay property and purchased a home in
Sebastian (Vero Beach), Florida with the idea it would be their last home.
As in Ellijay, Catherine threw herself into the Park Place Community and began to
organize and inspire. She became active in many of the Park Place activities
including the water aerobics program, cards and dominos, the fitness center, the
library and the backpack program. She was instrumental in getting the CPR/AEP
classes scheduled after years of attempts and was affectionately known by many as
the "CPR Lady".
She was a mentor to several women who saw in her a willingness to listen and to
understand their experiences; offer up guidance and compassion and was never
afraid to show her own soul and the depths that one can go and return in the face of
seemingly insurmountable loss and pain.
She volunteered at the local HOPE Charity Thrift Store until it closed in the Spring
of 2020. She attended city council meetings and met with the City Manager about
extending the sidewalk outside the Park Place Community to the Publix and
Walgreens parking lots; something recently approved by the Railroad.
"Catherine was never one to back away from a fight if she felt something was
worth fighting for" one of her dear friends would say about their experience.
She never "sat down in her life" and she defended her family with a fierce and fair
attitude.
Another Park Place resident would say "Catherine was one of my dearest friends...
in the short time I knew her, she left an impression on me beyond words" and still
another, "I will never forget her. Her spirit and her love of life; I can't believe
she's gone."
Catherine was an example for us all~
She is what is best in all of us~
We are left with great memories and a responsibility to stand up for ourselves as
she would want us to do; to never give up and to take each day for what it is...
A gift.
"We miss her completely"
It was Catherine's wish that any donations be made to:
VNA Vero Beach
901 37th Street ~ Vero Beach, Florida 32960
The Backpack Project at Park Place
(checks payable to Sue Doss)
2317 Kelly Drive ~ Sebastian, Florida 32958
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Catherine Utz Gray, please visit our flower store.

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