About Carrie Gray
Carrie Young Gray lived life the way it was meant to be lived. In every sense, the world was her oyster. Her smile was contagious, her energy unwavering. She lived a life proving that you can have it all: career, family, friends, vacations. Carrie's positive outlook, compassion for others, classic-yet-trendy style, and tinge of competitive spirit were evident in all aspects of her life. A life that ended entirely too soon as a result of an extremely rare form of brain tumor called a Pontine Glioma.
Born Carrie Louise Young on August 11, 1975 to Don and Sue Young, her young life was one of friendships, family, summer fun, and sports, particularly competitive swimming. Her early years were spent in Norwalk, CT, Pontiac, IL, Bloomfield Hills, MI, and when she was 13, the family relocated to Virginia where Carrie would graduate from Courtland high school in 1993. Carrie attended the University of Virginia, graduating with a degree in Commerce in 1997. She landed a job with GTE in Dallas (which later became Verizon) and launched a successful business career where she would quickly rise through the ranks to become one of the youngest female executives in the Fortune 15 company.
Carrie always had a passion for seeing the world, and no beach or ocean was too exotic or too far for her to want to visit. On a trip to Aruba in 2002, she and her dear friend Michelle defined a plan to take golf lessons when back in Dallas. A decision that would forever change her life, but ironically have limited impact on her golf game. Her instructor was a charming and handsome Australian named Dale, and although cliche, it was mutual "love at first novice swing". They married in Dallas in 2004 surrounded by family and friends, and began their life together. Theirs was a love story that was pure and true, and one full of mutual respect and the love of travel. The desire to always have fun fueled their idyllic marriage.
In 2006, with another promotion for Carrie at Verizon, she and Dale moved to NJ where they would spend the next 7 years. They formulated some of the most meaningful friendships of their lives in NJ, but always relished in the ability to get away to warmer weather, and if possible, a reef to dive. The world map on the wall in their home, littered with pins indicating where they'd been, and where they were planning to go soon, was inspiring to their friends. Carrie knew the importance of getting away and truly unplugging, and she worked hard to afford the ability to see the world. Carrie was most at home in the ocean, surrounded by sea life, sun, and sand.
In early 2012,Carrie began to notice issues with her vision. After having had LASIK a couple years earlier, she wondered if something had gone wrong. The week before the Superbowl, Carrie went to her eye doctor who advised her that her eyes weren't staying in sync with one another, and he scheduled an MRI. That Friday, her world changed, when the tumor on her brain stem was discovered. Over the next few weeks, and multiple reviews with oncology departments at many major hospitals and Universities (Cornell, NYU, Johns Hopkins, Duke, Sloan Kettering to name a few), the agreed-upon diagnosis of a Pontine Glioma was heartbreaking. This cancer that was extremely rare in adults was what she had. From that point on, her fight began. From Radiation and chemo, to Ruta6 and Ric Simpson Oil, she was willing to throw everything at it. But, true to Carrie's desire to not take things for granted knowing things may be be harder later, a few trips were taken. Cape May, the Maldives, Bermuda, and Maui, Oahu and Kauai, Hawaii all would be visited in the next year. In February 2013, Carrie and Dale decided to move to Waikiki, knowing that the sun and ocean were likely to be the best healers of any, and if not for the cancer, for their spirits. The tumor continued to progress, taking away some of Carrie's independence, but not her spirit.
Her husband Dale for the next 8 months was her rock, her caretaker, and her source of comfort. She left us peacefully on November 4th in the presence of Dale and her parents, and is now with her maker looking down on us with that radiant smile. She's running, doing yoga, and holding up a glass to the wonderful life she lived and to her loving husband, supportive family, and spirited and beautiful friends. We already miss her terribly, but will ensure she's not forgotten and her legacy to help fight brain cancer and save others lives will be all of our collective responsibility.
Carrie, you were beautiful inside and out. You were warm, you were private, you always put others first when you were dealing with this horrible disease. You loved the ocean, you worked to live, and you were an unbelievable wife, sister, daughter, and for me, an unbelievable friend. Carrie, we all love you. May your soul forever rest in peace.
- Angie Klein