Grace Gast Murray

Grace Marion Gast Murray, 99, of Lake Forest, Illinois, passed away peacefully with two daughters at her side in her home at Lake Forest Place on September 30, 2021. Born April 9, 1922 in Chicago, Illinois to Carolyn (Kemper) and Bert C. Gast, she lived her entire life in Chicago and surrounding area, primarily in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff. She is survived by her six children: Terry (Eli) Murray, Jill M. (Bob) Gallery, Kathleen M. (Dale) Jessen, Nancy Grace (Brad Steffens) Murray, Carolyn J. (Bradley Abelow) Murray and William G. (Kim Melvin) Murray. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Bud Gast and her sister, Helen Cagney. She was a loving and very generous parent and proud grandmother of her grandchildren and great grandchildren, all of whom survive her including William C. (Erin) Murray, Brian J. (Kerri) Murray, Meghan (Jake) Civiello, Erin (Ryan) Carroll, Andrew (Sabeen Kalyan-Masih) Steffens, Kyle (Blair Ranger) Steffens, Sarah (John Redpath) Abelow, Hannah Abelow, Daniel Abelow, Claire Jessen, Kendra Murray, Dylan Murray and her great grandchildren, Seamus, Sean and Maggi Murray and recently Brook Kemper Civiello. Some of her greatest joy came from time with her family and especially her grandchildren. As her youngest children entered school, Grace finished her college degree that had been interrupted by World War II and raising six children. She graduated from Barat College, cum laude, in English literature. During WWII she worked as a civil service employee at the San Marcos Training School in Texas. Later, she was a successful realtor for 14 years with Griffith Grant & Lackey in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff. She brought immense joy, love, knowledge, humor, spirituality and adventure to all who knew her and especially her family and many friends. Her love of travel with trips to every continent except Antarctica and thirst for knowledge was inspirational. She traveled with friends and family with memorable trips on European river cruises, to China, Russia, Egypt, Israel, zip-lining in Costa Rica at 82 years old, Machu Picchu for her 80th birthday, Australia and New Zealand and many more places. Her joy of travel was intertwined with her love of learning. A trip was never just a trip, she always researched where she was visiting and wanted to learn as much as possible. She was a dedicated Bridge player including teaching Bridge to seniors at the Gorton Center in Lake Forest for 8 years. Her avid interest in learning and education inspired her to organize a Lake Forest Book Club in 1975 that still meets to this day. She also shared this passion as a volunteer math tutor for 8th graders in Waukegan for 8 years. She was exceptionally community-minded and generous with her time volunteering with many organizations for many years. She served as President and Treasurer for the Guild of St. Mary’s; Vice President of the Carmel High School Parents’ Club; Board Member at Woodlands Academy; and Board Member for the Lake Forest Symphony. Her community involvement included serving on the City of Lake Forest Zoning Board of Appeals. She also held various offices in PEO (a philanthropic women’s organization) starting in 1976. She was an active member of the Lake Bluff Garden Club for 7 years and served as Ministry of Care for St. Mary’s Church where she was an active parishioner for over 50 years. She made a lasting impact on so many people over her 99 years and is greatly missed already. Her legacy though carries on through her family and to everyone she so generously gave of her time. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to Catholic Charities at https://catholiccharities.net, Doctors Without Borders at https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org, or the charity of your choice. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, November 13, 2021 at the Church of St. Mary, 175 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045 Lake Forest, IL. The service will be live streamed at https://www.facebook.com/ChurchofStMaryLF/videos/. Interment will be private. For information - Reuland & Turnbough Funeral Directors of Lake Forest, 847-234-9649 or www.RTfunerals.com.

Grace Gast Murray

April 9, 1922 - September 30, 2021