ELAINE S. GRAY

ELAINE S. GRAY 1930-2024 Our family is deeply saddened to announce the death of Elaine Shrimati Mahase Gray on 4 July 2024, at Riverview Care Centre, Medicine Hat. Elaine was born on 8 September 1930 in Guaico, Trinidad, WI. She was the fifth of seven children of Anna Chandisingh and Kenneth Emmanuel Mahase.
Elaine came from a line of strong, talented, and creative women. Her maternal grandmother Rookabai escaped an arranged marriage in India, to a man she considered old and ugly, by stowing away on a ship to Trinidad. She was twelve years old. Rookabai was a talented artist, and at annual Dewali festivals, she created magnificent displays that were famous throughout the Island.
Elaine’s parents put a high premium on education. In 1919, Anna qualified as the first East Indian woman teacher in Trinidad. On her way each day to the Guaico Presbyterian School, she would stop by the homes of the little Hindu and Muslim girls to bring them with her. Because the Indian parents trusted an Indian woman teacher, these girls received an education. Elaine’s father Kenneth converted from Hinduism to Christianity so he could attend university. He became the first Indian school principal in Trinidad. Through hard work and sacrifice, Anna and Kenneth were able to send all their children to university in the West Indies and overseas.
Elaine graduated from Anima High School and Naparima Teacher’s Training College in Trinidad. She attended University College of the West Indies (Jamaica) before transferring for the final year of her Bachelor of Arts degree at Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick. She graduated there in 1957. Elaine received her M Ed from Gonzaga University in 1980.
Elaine was a talented beauty with a sparkling personality and a sweetly musical voice. At Mount A, she captivated a brilliant and charismatic science student named Allison Gray. She and Al were married in Trinidad in 1958.
One night before her marriage to Al, Elaine had a vivid dream of a baby daughter who she dressed in yellow. That daughter, Susan Elaine, was born in Fredericton in 1960. Their second child, Rodney Allison, was born there in 1962 and their third child, Daryl Kenneth, was born in Montreal in 1964.
The family arrived in Alberta in 1965, when Al, who had obtained his Ph D in organic chemistry, accepted a scientific research position with the Department of National Defence in Suffield. In 1975, they moved from Ralston to Medicine Hat.
Elaine taught at various schools in Ralston and Medicine Hat and she inspired generations of students who remember her lovingly. The musicals she produced and directed involved entire student bodies and the spectacular sets she designed for these endeavours were unforgettable. Elaine was also specially known for the gargantuan Pole Art Standards she created at Southview Community School in Medicine Hat.
Elaine herself was a gifted artist. Picasso said that Marc Chagall was the one artist who truly understood colour. Elaine, who loved Chagall’s work, also created paintings rich with vibrant tones that shimmered through light.
Elaine was passionately devoted to her children and grandchildren (Alexandra, David, Michael, Samuel, Christopher, Jonny, and Katherine). Her love had infinite capacity.
Heartfelt thanks to Riverview Care Centre. We were fortunate that Elaine and Al could be cared for by gentle and talented people who treated them both as members of their own families. Special thanks to Stephanie, Carrie, and Courtney for their deeply compassionate support during Elaine’s final days.
Elaine’s and Al’s ashes will be buried in the family plot at Pembroke Cemetery, Woodstock, New Brunswick.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Pattison Funeral Home and Crematorium.
To leave a message of condolence you may visit www.pattisonfuneralhome.com.
PATTISON FUNERAL HOME
AND CREMATORIUM
540 South Railway St. SE,
Medicine Hat T1A 4C2