Bettimarie Kray Small

BettimarieHamiltonKray Small, a longtime Westford resident,passed away peacefullyonJanuary 11th2017at Coleman House in Northborough, Massachusetts.Bettimarie,the youngest ofthreesisters,was bornonApril 5th1931.She was the daughter of Bertha and Frank KrayofPhiladelphia, PA.At an early age Betty enjoyedplaying the piano andsinging in the church choir, and soon began private voice lessons. She was a gifted contralto, who in her younger years sang in regional theater,opera companies, and church choirs wherever she lived.While in Ohio, she played theLadyThiandinThe King andIin 1964, to a standing ovation with her performanceof“Something Wonderful.”
Bettimarie marriedCharlesErnestSmallonJune19th,1954. They weremarried for nearly 61 yearsuntil his death in 2015 and had three sons.
Shortly after moving toWestford, Bettybecame a Welcome Wagon hostess,deliveringgiftbaskets from localbusinesses to new homeowners.She moved on, teaching atnursery schoolfor many years as a dedicated staff memberwho loved children.When her sons were older, she became an administrative assistant at Wang Laboratories in Lowell.With the skills she perfected at Wang,Bettimarie and Charlie Small began their home-based professional engineering firmin the early eighties.They specialized in forensic investigations.While Charlie was the face of the firm, Bettimarie was the backbone, handling administration, coordinating events, and classes. They both retired in 2005.
Betty and Charlie loved to travel, with forays toAlaska, the Virgin Islands,Cancun, and several other states throughout the country.She particularly loved Colonial Williamsburg, and returned there numerous times. They also lovedto entertain andwerewell known for their charming house parties.
Betty adored gardenseverywhere she went.She was a member of theOpen Gate Garden ClubofChelmsfordalong with her best friendEleanor Eschnerformanyyears.Bettimarieserved asthe clubpresidentfrom 1990-1992 and again from 1997-1998.Bettimariewas devoted toher church,St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Westford, MA,in particular Chocolate Sunday!She always supported it in any way she could.
Bettimarieis survived byher sons Frank E. Small and his wife Marie White Smallof Bennington,VT,John C. Small and his wife SusanM.Smallof Westford,MA, andKray A. Small and his wife LauraSmallofWestborough,MA. She is also survived by hergrandson Jeffrey R. Small, and three step-granddaughters, Erin E. Wentworth, Dara K. Wentworth, and Elizabethand her husband JeromyWilderbeek,andclose friendsVivian Crocker and Fran Fletcher.
A service will be heldon Saturday, January21st, at 2pm at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 75 Cold SpringRoad, Westford, Massachusetts, followed by a luncheon in the parish hall.
In lieu of flowers donationsmay be madeto the St.Mark’s Discretionary Fund or theOpen Gate Garden ClubofChelmsford.
Arrangements are in the care of the J.A. HEALY SONS FUNERAL HOME, 57 N. Main St., Westford. To share your thoughts and memories of Bettimarie, please click the sign guestbook link.