Marianne Harper Gray, 88, of Vero Beach, FL, passed away on Saturday, September 3, 2022 in Vero Beach, FL with family by her side.

Anne was born in Mexico, Missouri to Marjorie Patterson Campbell and John Harper on September 1, 1934. When she was six years old, her father passed which resulted in her mother and sisters moving in with Uncle Bob Weeks and his wife Aunt Cess. Uncle Bob and Aunt Cess were instrumental in supporting this young family.

Anne received a scholarship to Lindenwood Presbyterian School for Women in St. Charles, Missouri. She graduated from the University of Missouri. While at Mizzou,
she was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. As a sorority pledge, Anne was given the duty of escorting Leven to the sorority brother/sister dinner because his sister Shirley, a sorority member herself, had already graduated and was not able to attend.  (At the time of the dinner Anne and Leven had never met!) Evidently things went very well… and subsequently they fell in love and later were married in 1956 in Mexico, Missouri.

Anne earned degrees in secondary education, elementary education, and Gifted and Talented Education. She served as a teacher, tutor, and resource teacher for gifted and talented students for twenty-five years.

After Leven began working for the Goddard Space Flight Center (and eventually the NASA headquarters in DC), they moved their family to Annapolis, MD in 1967 from Sandusky, Ohio. They began boating and exploring the Chesapeake Bay and various ports of call along the East Coast including St. Michaels, Chestertown, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard and Block Island and many more with their dear friends in the boating community. They also hosted a beloved and quite lively annual New Year's Eve party for their friends and neighbors in the Annapolis Roads community.

Once in retirement, Captain Leven and First Mate Anne traveled the Intercoastal Waterway on their 47-foot Motor Yacht Jabberwoc to winter in the Bahamas for 10 years. Vero Beach was a favorite stop along their journey. Eventually, they chose to make Grand Harbor, and then Indian River Estates, their full-time home.

Throughout her life, Anne was involved in church and community activities. In Vero, she served as an elder in the First Presbyterian Church and volunteered at Vero Beach elementary school, the Grand Harbor Ladies Nine-hole golf league. Cleveland Clinic Indian River Medical Center (CC IRMC), VNA Hospice, Habitat for Humanity, and the Bikes for Kids program sponsored by the local chapter Guardian Ad Litem chapter.  Anne and Leven were also Golden Eagle donors to CC IRMC.

Anne is preceded in death by the love of her life and devoted husband of 61 years, Leven, and her sister, Jane Park. She is survived by her loving family: Leven Randal Yamazaki-Gray and wife, Miyako Yamazaki-Gray, and their daughters, Kira Kai Leven Naeha Yamazaki-Gray and Tamara Kai Hinanoe Yamazaki-Gray of Molokai, Hawaii; David Weeks Gray of Spofford, New Hampshire; Suzanna Bliss and husband, Dr. Steven Sobel, of Middlesex, Vermont. She is also survived by her sister, Bobette Ramage of Cheboygan, MI.

Anne's family wishes to extend their sincere gratitude to the many talented and caring doctors, nurses, hospice employees and volunteers, Willowbrook staff, church affiliates, and dedicated friends who have supported and cared for Anne. Her spirit is now soaring free and looking for new mischief and adventures!

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection and Thanksgiving for the Lord's Servant Anne Gray will be held Saturday, September 10, 2022 at 10:30 AM at the First Presbyterian Church at 520 Royal Palm Blvd., Vero Beach, FL 32960. A live stream option is available through the First Presbyterian church's website or their Facebook page. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made out to the First Presbyterian Church or VNA Hospice 1110 35 ^th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960. Condolences may be shared online at coxgiffordseawinds.com.