Norma Joyce Doolittle Gray
(Mrs. Peter Rygaard Gray)

1946

MISS JOYCE DOOLITTLE WED IN CANDLELIGHT CEREMONY

In a pretty candlelight ceremony on the evening of July 15th at the First Methodist church in Lowell, Miss Norma Joyce Doolittle, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wade M. Doolittle of Lowell, became the bride of Peter Rygaard Gray, son of Mrs. William A. Gray, and the late Mr. William Gray of Ishpeming, Mich.

Baskets of pink and white gladioli banked the altar and tall white tapers in branched candelabra burned in each window as well as in the chancel.

The impressive double-ring service was solemnized at 7:30 by Rev. T.A. Loeppert of Hyde Park Methodist church, Chicago.

Mrs. Arthur Edmondson rendered a prelude of organ music and accompanied Frank Childress as he sang "Tell Me Why" and "Because" preceding the rites and "Saviour Like a Shepherd Lead Us," following the recital of the Lord's Prayer.

Escorted by her father, Miss Doolittle appeared in a picturesque gown fashioned of white imported Swiss organdy, featuring a round neckline and short puffed sleeves. The full skirt, cut entrained, was detailed with a spray of organdy from which cascaded her fingertip veil of nylon illusion. She wore a strand of pearls, gift of the groom, and carried an arm bouquet of pink roses.

Attending the bride as matron of honor was Mrs. Richard Meyer, a friend of the bride, while Mrs. Cleo Roy, sister of the bride, and Miss Carol Orwig of Chicago, friend of the bride, served as bridesmaids. Their gowns of velvet-ray embossed net over taffeta were in hues of lilac, Nile green and pink. To complete their costumes, the attendants wore matching gauntlets and carried colonial bouquets of summer flowers. Halos of daisies adorned their hair and their pearl bracelets were gifts of the bride. Mary Beth Ottengheimer, petite niece of the bride, was flower girl in a ruffle-trimmed frock of powder blue. She also wore a halo of daisies and carried a miniature basket of rose petals.

Gordon Elson of Ishpeming, Mich., friend of the groom, served as best man. Ned Johns, also of Ishpeming, and Sgt. Jay Doolittle of Fort Bragg, N.C., brother of the bride, were ushers.

For their daughter's wedding, Mrs. Doolittle chose an evening dress of blue linen, complimented by a lace jacket and white accessories. Her corsage was of red carnations. Mrs. Gray wore navy sheer with yellow accessories and a yellow rose corsage.

Approximately 125 guests extended congratulations to the newlyweds at a reception in the church dining room where the bride and groom cut their beautifully decorated, five-tier cake, gift of the bride's brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Ottengheimer.