Anne Alexander Gray, 47

April 13, 1979 – August 10, 2026

Anne Alexander Gray was so easy to be with and is so hard to be without. She died on August 10, 2026 in Vicuña, Chile from sudden, inexplicable violence, the antithesis of her peaceful and vivacious life. She was 47 years old. 

Gentle and compassionate, Anne found joy in simple pleasures— “easing into the day,” as she would say, with a cup of coffee, basking in the sun, harvesting honey from the bees she kept in her backyard, and exploring nature with her young son. She laughed easily, moved slowly and spoke melodiously, as if life was a song. She was genuinely interested in connecting with others.

Anne graduated from Friends Academy in Dartmouth, MA and from Wheeler School in Providence, RI. She earned a bachelor’s degree in applied linguistics and social justice from the University of Portland, OR. Anne’s work as a birthing doula and massage therapist reflected her compassionate nature. 

Anne was predeceased by her mother, Elisabeth “Betsy” O’Leary Gray, a first-grade teacher turned college professor of childhood education, and Samuel Braley Gray III, a business executive from the family who established Old Town Canoe in Maine. Anne was born on April 13, 1979 in New Bedford, MA and grew up on Aponagansett Bay in South Dartmouth, MA, where her love of the sea was born. 

Anne is survived by her son, Gael Marroquín Gray, and his father, Mario Marroquín Portus, in Chile; her sister, Rosie Gray Jimenez, and brother-in-law, Robert Jimenez, and their sons, Arlo and Julian, in Oregon; as well as several cousins, aunts, uncles, and many friends who considered her family.

For the last ten years of her life, Anne spent time in Valle del Elqui, Chile, as well as Oregon and New England. She taught English, took pottery classes, hiked the Andes mountains and made friends throughout the community of the Valle. 

Anne was a skilled listener and a patient teacher, but what she gave to her community extended well beyond the classroom. She was a quiet force who positively shaped the lives of many. When people in her community needed help during a recent storm that caused flooding, Anne opened her home and offered support.

Anne had many talents including weaving with natural fibers, telling funny stories and setting people at ease, but what she was best at was letting loved ones know how much she loved them. 

Anne radiated warmth to everyone. She lived with intention and spoke with a slow, soothing cadence that enveloped the listener. One longtime friend described her essence as “Annergy.” Those she touched are better for it.