Thursday, February 10, 2011

Marsha Webster Gavry, RIP

 Cousin Marsha was only 60 years old when she died; didn't think I would be writing this post in 2011. 

My childhood summers usually included Marsha, a Massachusetts  native, when she came to Flint, Michigan to visit her grandmother.  It was always fun when model-pretty Marsha with her New England accent came to town.  The last time I saw Marsha was at her grandmother's funeral in 1990 (she flew in on her boyfriend's family's private jet).  I envisioned Marsha in her younger days as being very comfortable in a Mercedes-Benz, wearing a fur coat and diamonds.  At other times she lived the life of a struggling single mother who devoted to her only child and his children later in her life. 

I was hoping that a trip to New England in the near future would include a visit with Marsha.  Facebook put me back in touch with her and an invitation was extended.  

Marsha Webster was Blanche (Johnston) Stout's granddaughter.  Blanche was the daughter of Annie Cameron and John Johnston and Annie was the daughter of Duncan & Ellen (Cameron) Cameron.  Marsha's mother was Jean (Stout) Webster.  My grandmother, Beatrice (Cameron) Powers was Blanche's half-sister.

It was always assumed that Marsha, being a Webster from Massachusetts, had an interesting paternal line  She did.  It included Governor John Webster (Marsha, Living, Duane Erle, Ernest Irving, Eugene, Jonathan, Jonathan, Jonathan, Thomas, John, Thomas, Governor John Webster).  This genealogy takes the Webster line several generations past Governor John Webster.

Didn't find a Mayflower connection through her Websters (although a connection could exist); however she was a Mayflower descendant through her Grandfather Warren Stout. 

Marsha's beloved grandson contacted me via Facebook and informed me of his grandmother's passing. 

Marsha J. (Webster) Gavry, 60, of East Hill Road, Canton, CT, died Monday, February 7, 2011 at her home.

She was born May 22, 1950 in Worcester, MA, the daughter of the late Jean T. (Stout) Webster and had lived in Middletown, RI for many years prior to moving back to Canton, CT three years ago. Mrs. Gavry was a Sales Representative and an Administrative Assistant at Vydek, Wang, Mercedes Benz, and Wachovia for the last 30+ years.

Marsha enjoyed most the company of her family. She is survived by her son, Justin, and his children, Zachary Thomas Gavry and Emma Harbec-Gavry; and her brother Dana Webster.

Friends may call at the Vincent Funeral Home, 120 Albany Turnpike, Canton, CT on Saturday, February 12th from 1 - 3 PM followed by a funeral service to celebrate her life at 3PM. Burial will be private.
 
Published in Worcester Telegram & Gazette on February 10, 2011

4 comments:

Dave Horne said...

I was good friends with Marsha and Dana at U-Mass in the early 70's. I agree, her life was an enigma; half glamour and luxury and half pain and struggle. With all respect to her privacy, do you know why she left us so early?

Dave Horne

PalmsRV said...

No I don't. I'll have to ask Dana what he knows. Thanks for the reminder (even though I think about Marsha quite often). Cathy

Anonymous said...

This is her grandson Zachary. My grandmother died from an overdose of opioid drugs.

PalmsRV said...

Zachary, thank you for your comment. Your grandmother was a special person. Hope you are doing well.

Cathy