Obituary of Maretta T. Gay

MARETTA TUCKER GAY, 82

Maretta Tucker Gay, died peacefully in her sleep Saturday, December 19, 2020 at her home in Duxbury, MA.   She was 82 years old.   She was born September 22, 1938 in White Plains, NY to John and Dora (Guinand) Tucker, and was raised in White Plains, NY.   She graduated from White Plains High School and Marjorie Webster College.

After working in advertising for a few years, Maretta became a Director of public relations at Simon & Schuster Publishing Co., and later worked as an advertising/promotion director for various paperback publishers.   On December 10, 1966 she married Richard J. Gay and they lived in Armonk, NY for more than 35 years. Maretta was famously organized, artistic and a lover of wildlife. She was a Chairman of the Armonk Outdoor Art Show, a cofounder of the Armonk Children’s Corner and served on the North Castle Conservation Board.   Maretta was a member of the Green Acres Garden Club and a longtime member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Armonk.      

A few years following Richard’s passing in 2011, Maretta relocated to Duxbury, MA to be near her daughter and two grandchildren. Maretta joined the Duxbury Estates community and enjoyed activities at the Duxbury Senior Center, particularly Mah Jongg. Maretta loved working on her garden, chatting with her neighbors & long-distance friends, or involving herself in house projects. Maretta maintained friendships spanning all phases of life thus her generosity, dry wit and friendship will be dearly missed by all, near and far, old and new.    

Maretta is survived by her daughter, Raina Gay Leahy of Duxbury, MA, her two grandchildren, Tucker & Tommy Leahy and Raina’s partner Erik Zinn; her brother and sister-in-law Thomas & Lucy Tucker, two nieces Elizabeth and Annie, and their four grandnephew/nieces; sister-in-law Mary Gay; nephew James Crush; cousin Dawn Tucker.

A Funeral Mass to celebrate her life and legacy will be held at 10am on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at Holy Family Church, 601 Tremont St., Duxbury, MA. The church requires that all attendees wear masks and follow COVID-19 social distancing guidelines. The Funeral Mass will be livestreamed at holyfamilyduxbury.org. A burial will be held later post COVID at Oakwood Cemetery, Mount Kisco, NY. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, Jupiter, FL or Standish Humane Society, Duxbury, MA.