Gay Quarty "was generous and devoted to her family, but her compassion for others continued with her volunteer work," her family wrote. She was a hospital volunteer in Port Jefferson and Newton, N.J., a caregiver and companion with Meals on Wheels in Newton, and a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity.
Mrs. Quarty, an East Hampton native who returned to her hometown in 2015, died on June 21 at Peconic Landing in Greenport. She was 78 and had cancer and dementia.
From 2015 until relocating to Peconic Landing, she split her time between East Hampton and Melbourne Beach, Fla.
She was born in Manhattan on Feb. 20, 1945, to James Harkness and the former Betty Louise Lester, and grew up in East Hampton. After graduating from high school here, she attended the Barbizon modeling school in New York City.
She and N. Stewart Quarty were married on Aug. 30, 1964. They lived first in East Moriches, then in Morris County, N.J., for eight years and in Sussex County, N.J., from 1978 until 2015, when they moved here to be closer to their daughters, Stacy Quarty Friedman of Water Mill and Kimberly Quarty Hagan of East Quogue, who survive.
Mrs. Quarty had been a member of the Presbyterian Church of Newton. Here she was a member of the East Hampton Presbyterian Church and of the East Hampton Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
"Gay had a great sense of adventure, and enjoyed world travel, sailing and boating, hiking and walking, planting and farming, tennis, and golf, and was an avid reader," her family said.
In addition to her daughters, her husband, who lives in Melbourne Beach, survives, as do her grandchildren, Robert Dunning of Eastport, Reilly Dunning of East Quogue, Karmen Friedman of Manhattan, and Devon Friedman of Water Mill. She leaves a brother and sister-in-law, James and Stephanie Harkness of Winthrop, Me., two sons-in-law, Jamison Friedman and Damon Hagan, and two stepgrandchildren, Audrey and Ty Hagan of Manorville.
Mrs. Quarty was buried at Cedar Lawn Cemetery in East Hampton. A date for a memorial service has not yet been set. Instead of memorial contributions, Mr. Quarty said his wife would have liked for people to "cherish your family and friends."
