Debby Gray

My introduction to Clearwater was like that of many others in the 1950s. One day when I came home from school my mother greeted me with, “I think I have found the perfect camp for you!” She had been invited by a friend, the mother of a current Clearwater camper to meet Halokwe and see a movie about camp. Mom was right! I spent the next seven summers, three in Harbor, one on the Cape and three on the Point loving every minute of camp. After a summer off, I came back for my Leadership summer and loved that experience as well.

Then I got involved in college and graduate school, earning a BA from the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul and an MA and MAT from Marquette University and Smith College.

Ten years after my Leadership year, and well embarked on a high school teaching career, I came back to Clearwater as a counselor and had the pleasure of working with Sunny.

Later I moved to Berea Kentucky and became a kindergarten teacher and directed the pre-school teachers at the Berea Children’s Center, an early childhood facility.

After ten years, I went back to school at the University of Kentucky and became a physician assistant. I worked in Internal Medicine and Family Medicine in the Appalachian region of Kentucky and loved every minute of working with the people in the mountains to provide good health care and enjoyed my co-workers as well. I retired in 2017.

Through all these changes in my life, Clearwater was one of the constants. I kept in touch with Sunny and came back frequently for visits. I attended Family Camp and came once for the Memorial Day work weekend. I was honored to be asked to plan several of the Reunion Sunday Services including Sunny’s Memorial Service.

I was surprised and delighted to be asked to become a member of the Board of Clearwater and I look forward to this new way to be part of camp.