Anne Butler Gray, 97, of Wilmington, N.C., passed away Sept. 16, 2017, at Davis Health Care in Wilmington. Anne will be remembered as a stylish dresser, world traveler, avid golfer, seasoned bridge player, amateur painter, actress, devoted mother and loyal friend.

Born Oct. 7, 1919, in Durham, N.C., “Annie Lee” was the only daughter of John Christian Butler and Ellie Reeves Butler. She graduated from the Woman’s College of the University of North Carolina in 1941 with a degree in secretarial administration.

Anne married her first husband, Peter Daniel Chabris, in 1946 and moved to New York City. The couple had four children together. The Chabris family moved often through the ‘50s and ‘60s living in locales such as Agawam, Mass., Memphis, Tenn., Montclair, N.J., Rochester, N.Y., and West Hartford, Conn.

Anne married her second husband, Arbor W. Gray, in 1981. The couple spent their golden years in Washington, where they were members of the Washington Country Club and the Washington, N.C. Friendship Force.

The two retired in 1996 to Plantation Village in Wilmington, N.C., where Anne enjoyed painting, golfing, line dancing, playing bridge and volunteering at a local elementary school.

Anne always maintained a zest for life and a wonderful ability to persevere. She had a true passion for travel and engaged everyone she met with southern charm and grace.

Anne is preceded in death by her son Thomas Louis Chabris; her first husband, Peter Daniel Chabris; and her second husband, Arbor W. Gray. Anne is survived by a daughter, Margaret Chabris of Dallas, Texas; a son, Paul Chabris, his wife Dale Theriault Chabris and granddaughter Krista Anne Chabris of Midlothian, Va.; a son, John Chabris of Chocowinity; and two stepsons, Lindsay Gray of Disputanta, Va., and Warren Gray of Wilmington, N.C.

Funeral services will be held at 2 pm Friday, Sept. 22, at Paul Funeral Home & Crematory in Washington.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in the name of Anne B. Gray to The Artisan House at Davis Health Care, 1011 Porter Neck Road, Wilmington, N.C., 28411.

Online condolences may be made at www.paulfuneralhome.com.

Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Gray family.