Gracey F. Magrath

Waltham - Miss Gracey F. Magrath, of Waltham, died Tuesday, April 21, 2009 in Newton-Wellesley Hospital. She was 81. Gracey was born October 28, 1927 in Cork, Ireland and immigrated to the United States as an infant with her Scottish born parents, William and Naomi (Forsyth) Magrath. She was a graduate of Waltham High School and earned both Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Framingham State College. She was a home economics educator for over 40 years in the Waltham Public School system. She began her career at the Kennedy Middle School and later moved to the Waltham High School where she spent the majority of her teaching years before retiring in 1990. Gracey was a longtime and active member of the First Baptist Church in Waltham where she chaired the flower committee for many years and was a member of the Women's Fellowship Committee. She was also a member of the Massachusetts Teacher's Association, National Education Association and R.E.A.M. (Retired Educators Association of Massachusetts). Gracey was a talented sewer and a voracious reader. She also traveled extensively with her friends across the country, her native Ireland and many other countries. She is survived by her cousins, Jane Gracey, Grace Rush and her husband, Frank, all of Toronto, Ontario, Rhoda Stevenson and her husband, Michael, and Patricia Timberlake, all of England; her close friends, Bettina J. Dalton, Phyllis Stockwood, Diane Allain, Rose Orozco, all of Waltham and Alice Garabedian of Brookline. Family and friends will honor and remember Gracey's life by gathering at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 24th at Newton Cemetery, 791 Walnut Street, Newton for a graveside service followed by a Memorial Service in celebration of her life at The First Baptist Church, 400 Lexington Street, Waltham at 11 a.m. The Reverend Lois Pinton and the Reverend Veronica Lanaer will officiate. Memorial donations may be made to The Educational Committee at The First Baptist Church, 400 Lexington Street, Waltham, 02452.