Shirley E. (McPhee) Dupray, 90, of Boxford Road, Rowley and
longtime of High Street, Ipswich, died Thursday October 30, 2008
in the Beverly Hospital following a brief illness. She was the
wife of the late Clarence S. Dupray who died in 1990.
Born in Gloucester February 9, 1918, daughter of the late Percy
and Mary E. (Melanson) McPhee, she was raised in Gloucester and
was a graduate of Gloucester High School. As a young woman she
was employed as a secretary at the Birdseye Electric Company in
Gloucester, and became Mr. Birdseye's personal secretary in both
Gloucester and New York City. In 1939 she went to work for
Sylvania in Ipswich where she met her late husband of
forty-three years. In the early 1950’s she and her husband were
transferred to Sylvania in Wheeling, West Virginia for a short
time, and returned to make their home and raise their family on
High Street in Ipswich. She has lived with her son Donald and
his family since 1999.
Shirley was an avid walker. She enjoyed the beach and her
worldwide travels with family and friends. She’ll be remembered
as the first in town with her convertible top down.
She was an active member and past President of the Ipswich
Women's Club, a volunteer at the Cranes Castle for the Trustees
of the Reservation, a volunteer at the Ipswich Information Booth
and Ipswich Visitor Center, and was longtime communicant of St.
Mary's Church in Rowley, where for many years she served as
secretary.
She is survived by a son, Donald D. Dupray and his wife Patricia
of Rowley; a daughter, Carole Anne Dupray of Haverhill; two
grandchildren, Donald D. Dupray, Jr. and Westley Dupray both of
Rowley and many nephews and nieces. She was the sister of the
late Robert McPhee formerly of Melbourne, FL.
Her funeral will be held Monday 9 am from the Whittier-Porter
Funeral Home, 6 High Street, Ipswich, followed by a 10 am
Funeral Mass in St. Mary's Church, Main Street, Rowley with
interment in the Cowles Memorial Cemetery, Ipswich. Family and
friends are respectfully welcomed. Visiting hours are Sunday 4
to 7 pm. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in her name
may be made to L’Arche Irenicon, P.O. Box 1177, Haverhill, MA
01831
