Obituary of Margaret Elizabeth Gray

 

 

Margaret Elizabeth Gray
1941-2024

Born Margaret Taggart in Bushmills, Northern Ireland on 15 July 1941, Margaret passed away suddenly on 12 September 2024. The family is profoundly grateful to the staff at the Dr. Everett Chalmers  Regional Hospital in Fredericton, most especially the compassion and professionalism of Dr. Jeff Ginn, the paramedics, and the entire emergency staff, especially nurse Jody, At her passing, she was surrounded by all of her daughters and many of her grandchildren. The family would like to thank the palliative care nurses for their caring support at the end. 

She will be greatly missed by her four daughters: Rosemary (Stephen) McCluskey, Maureen Levesque (Henrik Tonning), Katherine (Jeff) Appleby and Karen Gray (Donnie Cowle). She has 10 grandchildren who will miss her presence and her love: Sarah (Daniel) Chamberlain and Sean McCluskey (Amanda Ramsay), Leo Levesque, Nicolas Levesque (Tanya Dhayagude), Michelle Levesque (Joe Martin) and Leah Levesque (Kyle McAllister), Amy and Eric Appleby and Matt and Mitch Cowle and one great grandson, Grayson Sterner. It would be remiss to not mention Roger Levesque, father to four of her lovely grandchildren who was truly a comfort and always a support to Margaret. She also had a special place in her heart for her family in Ireland: her uncle, Hugh Taggart and daughter Brenda and her youngest brother, Samuel Taggart and his children Cathy, Clair, Jenny and Young Samuel. She had a very close group of friends who fulfilled her golden years with laughter and fun. She will be dearly missed by her Sunday Bridge girls as well as her dearest friend Jeanette.

Margaret emigrated from Ireland to Fredericton in 1966. A young mother of three, soon to be four, she was a full time mother. Her nursing training certainly helped as she was also the sole, unpaid, employee of her husband Dr. Robert Gray’s growing veterinary practice. 

She was an avid sports woman, a long time member of the Fredericton Golf and Country Club, a long standing member of the Capital Winter Club and in her later years the Fredericton Lawn bowling club. She actively volunteered her time to these associations. Cheerfully competitive she was also a New Brunswick Mixed Provincial Lawn Bowling Champion. Many competitors, either on the curling rink, the golf course or lawn bowling green, knew they were in trouble when Margaret looked at them with that sly little smile and twinkle in her eye!

Margaret's true joy were her daughters. Some of her happiest memories were from those glorious summer holidays at Oromocto Lake. Time spent with her girls was what truly nurtured Margaret's heart and that heart only grew larger and more full with the addition of each grandchild and great grandson. 

For all that she embraced and loved her new home, Margaret was, in her soul, an unabashed Irish country girl. Bred and raised on her family's land, perched above the Giant's Causeway, she always felt the pull of her native Ireland. A little fey, she did not discount the little people and no amount of teasing would convince her that the spirits of these departed did not walk the lands we inhabit. All who loved her know that part of her spirit always remained tethered to the green fields above and the white spray that crashed on those amazing basalt stones. She visited Ireland many times over the years, most recently this spring. It always rejuvenated her. She would say that the breezes felt more gentle and the air breathed easier.  And now we get to it. We know this. As the sun sets today those ancient stones have welcomed their cherished daughter home.

Slan agus beannacht Margaret!

In lieu of a public remembrance, the family has decided to remember and celebrate Margaret's life privately. At her request her ashes will be returned to the family plot at Toberkeigh Church near Bushmills. Should anyone wish to commemorate Margaret, she herself would say that the most meaningful way to do so would be to show love for your family and share good times with your friends.