GLOUCESTER: Kathryn “Kay” M. (Maguire) Merchant, 86, of Plum Street, died Saturday, June 9, 2007 in The Atrium Assisted Living Center in Danvers. She was the wife of the late Raymond P. Merchant who died in August of 1965.
Born in Craddock, Virginia on April 17, 1921, she was the daughter of the late Edward and Margaret (Mehlman) Maguire. She has resided in Gloucester most of her life.
Kay was a former Girl Scout leader for the Purple Pansie Troop in Gloucester for many years and was also a Den Mother for several years in Gloucester. She was a member of the former St. Peter’s Church Sodality.
She is survived by a daughter, Sarah “Sally” J. Merchant and a son, Robert P. Merchant both of Gloucester, a stepdaughter, Priscilla F. Buzzell of Newport, VT, a stepson and his wife, Donald R. and Hazel Merchant of Norwich, VT, five grandchildren, Deborah and her husband, Christopher Galiano of San Diego, CA, Margaret and her husband, Domenic Testa of Revere, James Merchant and his fiancée, Michelle Tirabassi, Raymond and his wife, Kathleen Sears all of Gloucester and Michael Merchant of Salem, six great-grandchildren, Jaret, Jacob and Hannah Sears and Megan and Allison Merchant all of Gloucester and Domenico Testa of Revere and two nieces, Marjorie Somers of Virginia Beach, VA and Charlotte Zaino of Coronado, CA and several stepgrandchildren and cousins. She was also predeceased by a brother, Robert P. Maguire and a stepson-in-law, Hall Buzzell.
Her funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday in St. Anthony’s Chapel, E. Gloucester at 11 a.m. Visiting hours will be held on Thursday in the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle Street, Gloucester from 6 -9 P.M. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the Beacon Hospice, 100 Cummings Center, Suite 22C, Beverly, MA 01915 or to The Atrium, c/o Kristine Taylor, 1 Veronica Dr., Danvers, MA 01923. Interment will be held in the Oak Grove Cemetery, Gloucester.