Family, faith and friends were the most important parts of South Burlington woman’s life
Carolyn Akin Gray of South Burlington, Vt., went to her heavenly home on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at the age of 93, with her daughter, Jill, holding her hand. She had shared the previous day with grandchildren, great-grandchildren, her minister and friends. She told Jill that it had felt like her birthday, rather than a normal day. Family, faith and friends were her life. Despite many years of pain, she had an infectious smile and beautiful positive spirit, always wanting to be helpful to others. Carolyn is survived by her children, Jill Gray Wilkens and her husband, Ed; Dan Gray and his fiancée, Lisa Martin; and her deceased son Jim’s widow, Elizabeth Gray; as well as her six grandchildren, Michael Gray and his wife, Robyn; Marissa Strayer-Benton and her husband, Jackson; Brian Gray and his wife, Melissa; Lindsay Zeitler and her husband, Joe; Jacqueline Kahr and her husband, Derek; and Justin Gray. She is also survived by her nine great-grandchildren, Elijah and Crosby Gray; Avery and Grady Zeitler; Keagan, Parker and Natalie Gray; and Roman and Lola Strayer-Benton; as well as many nieces and nephews and extended family. They were the joy of her life. All who knew her felt her love. Carolyn was born on November 2, 1930, to Laura Isabelle Cobleigh Akin and Aubrey Walter Akin in Newport, Vt. She attended Newport schools until her father was called into active duty during World War II, when she became a self-proclaimed army brat as the family followed her father’s assignments across the U.S. and eventually to Europe. She graduated from the Heidelberg Dependents High School in Germany in 1948, attended the University of Vermont for one year and then entered nurses’ training at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. She left training after one year to marry the love of her life, Jim Gray, on June 14, 1951. They had 68 amazing years together. Carolyn found great joy as a wife and mother, managing the household, and she especially enjoyed baking, sewing and crafts. When the family left Newport in 1966 and moved to South Burlington, she chose to operate a private childcare service in their home. Later she worked at Magrams department store in Burlington. Jim and Carolyn moved to Delray Beach, Fla., in 1983 and then to Boca Raton in 1986, anticipating Jim’s retirement from IBM. In Florida, Carolyn enjoyed working at Mercer Wenzel department store for…
Family, faith and friends were the most important parts of South Burlington woman’s life
Carolyn Akin Gray of South Burlington, Vt., went to her heavenly home on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at the age of 93, with her daughter, Jill, holding her hand. She had shared the previous day with grandchildren, great-grandchildren, her minister and friends. She told Jill that it had felt like her birthday, rather than a normal day. Family, faith and friends were her life. Despite many years of pain, she had an infectious smile and beautiful positive spirit, always wanting to be helpful to others. Carolyn is survived by her children, Jill Gray Wilkens and her husband, Ed; Dan Gray and his fiancée, Lisa Martin; and her deceased son Jim’s widow, Elizabeth Gray; as well as her six grandchildren, Michael Gray and his wife, Robyn; Marissa Strayer-Benton and her husband, Jackson; Brian Gray and his wife, Melissa; Lindsay Zeitler and her husband, Joe; Jacqueline Kahr and her husband, Derek; and Justin Gray. She is also survived by her nine great-grandchildren, Elijah and Crosby Gray; Avery and Grady Zeitler; Keagan, Parker and Natalie Gray; and Roman and Lola Strayer-Benton; as well as many nieces and nephews and extended family. They were the joy of her life. All who knew her felt her love. Carolyn was born on November 2, 1930, to Laura Isabelle Cobleigh Akin and Aubrey Walter Akin in Newport, Vt. She attended Newport schools until her father was called into active duty during World War II, when she became a self-proclaimed army brat as the family followed her father’s assignments across the U.S. and eventually to Europe. She graduated from the Heidelberg Dependents High School in Germany in 1948, attended the University of Vermont for one year and then entered nurses’ training at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. She left training after one year to marry the love of her life, Jim Gray, on June 14, 1951. They had 68 amazing years together. Carolyn found great joy as a wife and mother, managing the household, and she especially enjoyed baking, sewing and crafts. When the family left Newport in 1966 and moved to South Burlington, she chose to operate a private childcare service in their home. Later she worked at Magrams department store in Burlington. Jim and Carolyn moved to Delray Beach, Fla., in 1983 and then to Boca Raton in 1986, anticipating Jim’s retirement from IBM. In Florida, Carolyn enjoyed working at Mercer Wenzel department store for…