We are all terribly saddened at the passing of classmate Sis Youngblood Gray on November 28, 2011, at age 71. Sis died of cancer. Although she lived in Vermont for the past 21 years, she spent her final days in Massachusetts, where she passed away. She leaves behind husband Vernon, whom she met skiing in Vermont 42 years ago. She and Vernon have two sons and five grandchildren. Additional details of her very private life can be found in "The Luckiest Generation" booklet that was assembled for our 50th Class Reunion, which Sis attended. Because Sis lived in the East, we saw her only rarely; but we are glad that we were able to visit with her at our 50th. Sis will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Many classmates recall that her name in high school was Mary Youngblood; but her close friends, of whom there were many, referred to her with her nickname, "Sis". We all remember that Sis was one of our cheerleaders and kept us all "in the game" with our cheers, regardless of what sport we were watching. Sis was very active in clubs and organizations in high school. She was one of our American Foreign Exchange Students, was active with the Surf Belles, G.A.A., Canteen, Student Council and Ethics Committees, worked on the Echo and Echowan, and was a Homecoming Attendant.

Sis lived in New York City for 10 years, working in fashion and publishing (Glamour Magazine and Time Life Books).  She and Vernon moved to Southport, Connecticut for 20 years, where they raised their two sons Vernon Jr. and Brooks, volunteered for community, school and church projects.  She and Vernon built a house on a beautiful mountainside in East Burke, Vermont and she lived there until her cancer forced her to move to receive care in Massachusetts.  During these years in Vermont Sis kept busy traveling, skiing, gardening, church work, birding and sailing on their own sailboat.

Sis loved the outdoors, and with husband Vernon sailed along the East Coast from Connecticut to Newfoundland and in exotic waters around the world, from Croatia, Sweden, and British Columbia, to the Caribbean, and even in Patagonia and around Cape Horn. She championed protecting the environment, lobbied for energy conservation, and thoroughly enjoyed everything that one can do outdoors, from bird watching, to beekeeping and maple syrup production and sales.  She enjoyed "working" at whatever nature made available.  She was a fully "green" lady long before it became popular.

Sis Youngblood was a learned, beautiful and virtuous women who was the fairest, kindest, and most confident person one could ever meet. Besides her tremendous love of family and friends, Sis enjoyed collecting rocks, beach stones, unused birds' nests, shells, gardening books, antique quilts and pottery.  This world needs far more Sis Youngbloods - with the embodiment of both a gentle love of nature and an adventurous zest for worldly exploration!

At the time of the entry of this notice no details were available for a memorial service; but we understand that one may be planned for sometime in the summer of 2012.  In the meantime we can all say two prayers: One for the soul of this beloved and very spiritual Parkite and another for the beautiful family of young grandchildren that Sis has left behind, for they will never fully know the  extent of the extraordinary wisdom of the grandmother taken from them far too soon.