Gilford-----Reverend Edward Barent Grevatt died on November 21, 2014 at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, following a stroke. He was 78 years old. Barry had suffered another major stroke in 2009 from which he made a miraculous recovery.
He resided on Colonial Drive, Gilford for 43 years with his wife, Mary Louise (Myers) Grevatt, who survives him. Other survivors include their daughter, Carla Ann Grevatt Jackson and son-in-law, R. Scott Jackson; grandchildren Andrew Edward, Ian Robert and Grace Ann, all of Bridgewater, MA. Their son, Richard P. Grevatt and fiancée Mandie Davis, along with her daughter, Natasha Tyler, all of Gilford; brother Marston K. Grevatt and his wife Margaret of East Falmouth, MA; first cousin, Jean Yereance Zapple, of Harwichport, Cape Cod, and Falls Church, VA; nephew Douglas Edward Grevatt and wife Elisa of Norwalk, CT and nephews Kyle, Christopher and Jason Myers of Rochester, NY area, plus many cousins.
Rev. Grevatt was born in Newark, NJ on March 29, 1936, the son of the late Dr. Edward M. Grevatt and the late Edith Yereance Grevatt. He grew up in Montclair, NJ, graduated from Montclair High School in 1954. In 1958 he graduated from Cornell University, with a B.A. in Economics, and in 1961 from Colgate Rochester Divinity School, Bachelor of Divinity. He was ordained in 1961 at his home church in Montclair, First Congregational Church, UCC. He then served churches in Moline, Illinois, and Rochester, NY. Rev. Grevatt received his Masters of Sacred Theology from Dubuque Theological Seminary in 1970. He then served for thirty years as Pastor at the Congregational Church of Laconia, United Church of Christ, and was honored in 2010 as Pastor Emeritus of the Laconia church.
Rev. Grevatt was active with the NH Conference of the UCC, served as Moderator of the Merrimack Association for years; the Pension Board of the National UCC; an annuitant visitor to retired clergy; for years wrote and edited 'Home Devotions' for homebound persons and served on many other committees.
After retiring in 2001, “Barry” and his wife travelled abroad each year visiting many countries. Even after his stroke in 2009, the Grevatt’s had a second trip to Alaska, this time in ferry boats. “Barry” took great pride in caring for his garden and yard and for years enjoyed the peach and apple trees. His interest in stamps began as a young person and continued for many years, with Belgium being his main stamp collection. For years in high school, with his band, to later years, his favorites included jazz to classical. The night he was stricken, he was enjoying Benny Goodman, Carnegie Hall jazz concert.
A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at 2:00 on Saturday, December 6th, 2014, at the Congregational Church of Laconia, UCC, on Veterans Square. Rev. Dr. Warren H. Bouton will preside. A reception will follow memorial service in the church hall.
In lieu of flowers donations in his memory can be made to: Colgate-Rochester Crozer Divinity School, Goodman Street, Rochester, NY, 14618 or to the Dorcas Fund, a local emergency assistance fund to help persons in need in the Laconia area, at the Congregational Church of Laconia, 18 Veterans Square, Laconia, NH, 03246.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H. is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com