LaRae Reader Gantt

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LaRae Reader Gantt

Feb. 14,1936 - Aug. 21, 2016

WHITTING, NJ - LaRae Reader Gantt, 80, of Whiting, New Jersey, passed away on Tuesday August 2, 2016. Born in South Bend Indiana on February 14, 1936 to Cecil and Esther Jean Reader, LaRae attended Jame Monroe Elementary school and graduated from Riley High School in 1954. LaRae continued her academic career at Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, and Rowan College, New Jersey, earning a Bachelor of Fine Art Degree. She received her Master of Arts from Rutgers University.

On September 8, 1956 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, she married the love of her life, Phillip Leon Gantt. Before moving to Whiting, New Jersey in 2012, she and Phil lived in Moorestown NJ, Mission Viejo CA, Westlake village CA, Oxnard CA, Thousand Oaks CA, Bayshore NY, and Green Valley, Arizona. LaRae was a first grade teacher for 20 years at the Haviland Avenue School in Audubon, New Jersey. After retiring from teaching, LaRae was the Chairman of the Disneyland Jazz Concerts at Orange County, California, Director of the Ojai Art Center, Ojai, California, Public Relations Chairman of the Conejo Symphony Orchestra, and Director of the California Lutheran University Guild. LaRae was a writer, storyteller, painter, fiber artist, and avid Bridge player. She was a devoted Christian and held her faith close in thought and deed. She, along with her husband Phil, became master chefs in their own kitchen! Over many years, vacationing on the beach in Cape May, New Jersey, was her favorite place to be.

LaRae is survived by her devoted husband, Phil of Whiting, her daughters; Karla Silver and her husband Don of Palm Springs, CA, and Ninabeth Metcalf and her husband Ken of Columbia, NJ; her grandchildren Timothy Metcalf, Christopher Metcalf and Caroline Metcalf, two sisters, Marcia Reader Claudon, (Richard Claudon who passed December 15, 2000), Diane Reader Dorn (Jim Dorn). Her sister Janet Scott (Richard Scott) preceded her in death, passing on January 14, 2015. and many wonderful nieces and nephews.

Her family will gather to celebrate LaRae's rich and colorful life on October 27th in Cape May, New Jersey.