Marietta Howe Davisson Cutler died on August 7, 2006 of a heart attack. Mrs. Cutler was born on February 22, 1918, to Parkman Dexter Howe and Grace Cummins Howe of Needham.
She attended the Charles River and Winsor Schools. On June 15, 1940 she married Richard L Davisson, Jr., to whom she was devoted until his death in 1985. They had five children. Marietta later married John Cutler, with whom she had 15 happy years. Mrs. Cutler belonged to the Vincent Club, The Country Club of Brookline, and the Dedham Country and Polo Club. Marietta was an accomplished tennis, ping pong and bridge player and an avid reader and crossword puzzle enthusiast. People who mistook her gentle demeanor for lack of competitive spirit obviously never lost to her in any of her competitive passions. She held several trans-Atlantic passenger liners’ ping pong championships, especially on the old Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth.
She loved nursing nervous Arabian horses back to a level of trust with which she could ride them in Lee’s woods and Hale Reservation, of which she was a trustee.
Most important to her, Marietta was devoted to her family, her many lifelong friends and bridge partners.
She is survived by her five children and their spouses, Henry Davisson of Durham, NH; Helen and Robert Deeley of Dorset, VT; Katty and Tack Chace of Weston; Rich Davisson and Mary Gale of Durham, NH; and Jamie and Nancy Davisson of North Haven, ME.
She was the beloved grandmother of fifteen: Marietta Chace, Wendy Chace, Charlotte Milan, Andrew Whiteley, Lora Davisson, Betsey Chace, Diana Chace, Nathaniel Whiteley, Beth Davisson, Noah Davisson, Katie Davisson, Quincy Davisson, Zeke Davisson, Joan Davisson, and Jesse Davisson; and great-grandmother of fourteen great-grandchildren.
Marietta also leaves her sister, Maud Rheault of Dover. She was predeceased by her two brothers, Parkman D Howe, Jr. and David E. Howe.
Gatherings will be held at her home on both Thursday and Saturday, August 10 and 12, starting at 11 a.m., with prayers at noon. There will be a memorial service in the fall.
Marietta’s charity was the Children’s AIDS Unit of Boston Children’s Hospital, which her family respectfully asks be considered in lieu of flowers.