Edith G 'Gay' Kreider

Edith Gay Rice Kreider, 98, a retired librarian and teacher, passed away on May 1, 2010 at Chapel Hill Community. She formerly resided on Plover Street, Swan Street and Lake Shore Drive West in Dunkirk. Gay, as she was known for most of her life, was born on September 26, 1911 in Ripley to the late Dr. Fred Conley Rice and Fanny Bartlett Rice. She graduated from Ripley Public School, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Lake Erie College and a Bachelor of Science in Library Science from the Carnegie Institute of Technology. She served as librarian and teacher in Westfield Public School and Hamburg Public School, as music librarian at State University of New York at Fredonia, and as librarian at Dunkirk Free Library. Mrs. Kreider was a member of the First Methodist Church of Dunkirk, Women’s Literary Club of Dunkirk (Past President), League of Women Voters of Chautauqua County, American Association of University Women, and New York State Retired Teachers Association. She enjoyed music, playing piano, flower gardening, flower handicrafts, and playing bridge. She is survived by her son Douglas of Kailua, HI, daughter Diana Hamilton of Livonia, NY, seven grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband of 44 years, John L. Kreider, who passed away in 1986; her daughter Lois Smith of Doylestown, OH; a sister, Laura Clapp of Grinnell, IA, and two brothers, Allen Rice of Chautauqua and Charles Rice of Cleveland. Arrangements were handled by the Paquelet Funeral Home, 1100 Wales Road N.E., Massillon, OH. A private memorial service and burial are planned. Memorials may be sent to the First Methodist Church of Dunkirk, First Methodist Church of Ripley, or Dunkirk Free Library.