Martha Gray

Martha “Marty” Ann Gray died Thursday, October 30, 2008 at Borgess Medical Center. She was born April 4, 1941 to Lillian and Eino Karppinen in Muskegon, Michigan. Marty graduated from Western Michigan University, with a Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude in 1978, and also with a Master of Science in Librarianship in 1981.

Marty worked in libraries from 1978 until her retirement at the South Haven Public Library in 2006. Marty was known to participate in fundraising for many causes. She was a grant writer and manager of library building expansions through the Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) 1987 – 1990. She began an Adult Literacy Program at the South Haven Library in 1986. She also loved story-telling for our children in the public schools and the Center for the Arts.

Marty was a devoted mother and grandmother, a dear friend and was very active in the community. She was honest, intelligent, and witty. She loved to read, the beach, being with her granddaughter, spending time with family and friends, and she loved and appreciated life.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her son Robert Gray, and her sister Mary Barker.

She is survived by her daughter Bonnie (Steve) Cavadas of South Haven, Michigan and her granddaughter Elena Cavadas, son Scott Gray , brother Tim (Eka Diana Kristianti) Karppinen of Muskegon, Michigan and nephew Malachi Karppinen.

Visitation will be Tuesday, November 4 from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M at the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home. Funeral services will begin at 1:00 P.M. Burial will take place at Oak Grove Cemetery in Lawton, Michigan. Memorial contributions can be made to the We Care Food Pantry at the First Congregational church or to the South Haven Memorial Library. Kindly share your thoughts and memories on the family’s online guest book at www.FilbrandtFFH.com.

The family is being helped by the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home of South Haven 637-0333.