Obituary for Gray Coale
Emma Gray Emory Coale, of Providence, born in Richmond, Virginia, on July 11, 1951, died on February 25 of pancreatic cancer at Hallworth House in Providence.
She was graduated from St. Catherine’s School in Richmond in 1969 and Wheaton College in 1972 and came to Providence that same year. She was a member of St. Martin’s Church in Providence, the Acoaxet Club in Westport, MA, and was previously a member of the Agawam Hunt Club and the Providence Art Club among other organizations. She was also a member of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Gray loved plants, working with the earth, the more mulch and muck the better, a true spirit of nature. She was a Massachusetts Certified Horticulturalist and worked for nearly sixteen years at Sylvan Nursery in Westport. Once when a Sylvan employee spotted her at the annual conference of New England Grows, he exclaimed, “You clean up good!” It became a favorite family saying. She expanded her horticultural interests as a member and the chair of the board at Swan Point Cemetery. Her relationship with both people and plants was remarkably gracious, open-hearted, and compassionate. Those who knew and loved her admired her courage and her generosity of spirit.
She enjoyed living in Greece, Brazil, and England, made several lifetime friends from each place, and would follow a basset hound anywhere. Her cross-court tennis shot often stunned her opponents.
She leaves her husband, Samuel Coale of Providence, and their son, Samuel Coale of Los Angeles; her mother, Mrs. Emma Gray Emory of Richmond, Virginia; her brother, William H. Emory of Charlottesville, Virginia; and her nieces, Emma Gray Emory and Helen Palmer Emory.
Her funeral will be held Thursday, March3 at 11am in St. Martin's Church, Orchard Ave. Providence.
In lieu of flowers, you may make donations to the Gray E. Coale Memorial Garden at Swan Point. Please make checks payable to Swan Point Cemetery and sent to 585 Blackstone Blvd. Providence, R.I. 02906
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She was graduated from St. Catherine’s School in Richmond in 1969 and Wheaton College in 1972 and came to Providence that same year. She was a member of St. Martin’s Church in Providence, the Acoaxet Club in Westport, MA, and was previously a member of the Agawam Hunt Club and the Providence Art Club among other organizations. She was also a member of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Gray loved plants, working with the earth, the more mulch and muck the better, a true spirit of nature. She was a Massachusetts Certified Horticulturalist and worked for nearly sixteen years at Sylvan Nursery in Westport. Once when a Sylvan employee spotted her at the annual conference of New England Grows, he exclaimed, “You clean up good!” It became a favorite family saying. She expanded her horticultural interests as a member and the chair of the board at Swan Point Cemetery. Her relationship with both people and plants was remarkably gracious, open-hearted, and compassionate. Those who knew and loved her admired her courage and her generosity of spirit.
She enjoyed living in Greece, Brazil, and England, made several lifetime friends from each place, and would follow a basset hound anywhere. Her cross-court tennis shot often stunned her opponents.
She leaves her husband, Samuel Coale of Providence, and their son, Samuel Coale of Los Angeles; her mother, Mrs. Emma Gray Emory of Richmond, Virginia; her brother, William H. Emory of Charlottesville, Virginia; and her nieces, Emma Gray Emory and Helen Palmer Emory.
Her funeral will be held Thursday, March3 at 11am in St. Martin's Church, Orchard Ave. Providence.
In lieu of flowers, you may make donations to the Gray E. Coale Memorial Garden at Swan Point. Please make checks payable to Swan Point Cemetery and sent to 585 Blackstone Blvd. Providence, R.I. 02906
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