Martha Helen (O'Jala) Gray

Martha Helen O’Jala Gray was born on January 7, 1924 at her grandparents’ farm in Rockville, Maine, a minute after her identical twin sister Vivian entered the world. They joined their older brother Raymond and their parents, and later moved to their own farm in Rockville. Here the O’Jalas would toil, raising chickens and vegetables, and harvesting the many acres of blueberries. Dodges Ridge farm was perched on a windswept hill overlooking Penobscot Bay. The O’Jala children attended school in a one-room schoolhouse. In winter, they commuted on skis. When the twins were eighteen, they moved to Waltham, Mass. There they worked at Waltham Watch Company. It was there that Martha met Bruce Gray, who was to become her husband in April of 1948. Bruce had returned from his service during World War II, where he had fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima. Married life for Martha and Bruce began in Watertown, MA. Moving in 1949 to Newton, MA, it was there that their daughters Rebecca and Betsy were born. In 1957, the Gray family relocated to Dover, MA. Martha became involved in community service. She was a much beloved Girl Scout leader and Sunday school teacher at the Dover Church. Martha was a prolific painter, and enjoyed portraying colorful scenes from her girlhood in Maine, especially seascapes and lighthouses. She leaves her husband, Bruce, also of Dover, MA, daughter Rebecca and her husband William Rolke of Dunbarton, NH, daughter Betsy Chervenak of Bay Shore, NY, grandson Cpl. Alexander Chervenak, U.S.M.C., Cherry Point, NC, sister-in-law Mildred O’Jala of Union, ME, sister-in-law Joyce Anderson of Helendale, California, brother-in-law David Gray of Las Vegas, Nevada and cousins, nieces and nephews in Massachusetts and Maine. A Memorial Service will be held at Grace Church 21 Center St Dover on Friday September 3 at 11 AM. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. Interment will follow at Newton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Martha’s name may be made to Grace Church, 21 Center Street, Dover, MA 02030.

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