Tributes

Ashley Wagner Dalzell passed away on April 16, 2025, in Denver, Colorado, where she had lived for the past several years. She was born in Moundsville, West Virginia, the daughter of Kenneth and Georgia Dalzell. Ashley was a graduate of Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy in Wheeling, West Virginia, and earned her degree from Miami University in Ohio. Throughout her life, she remained deeply committed to family, education, and community. She is survived by her beloved sons, Sterling Gray and Sebastien Gray, both of Cambridge, Massachusetts; her mother, Georgia Dalzell of Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina; her sister, Allison Allen (John Allen) of Savannah, Georgia; her brother, Andrew Dalzell (Claire Carwell), and nephew, Dain Dalzell, of Denver, Colorado. She is also lovingly remembered by a large extended family across the country. Ashley was preceded in death by her father, Kenneth Dalzell, in November 2024. Ashley raised her sons in Wilmington, Delaware, where she was known as a devoted mother, master gardener, passionate composter, and burgeoning sourdough baker. Summers were often spent in Harbor Beach, Michigan, a cherished family retreat where Ashley had spent her own childhood and served as a camp counselor in her younger years—later sharing that special place with her sons. She championed high-quality education, serving on the board of Children’s House Montessori School after witnessing the profound impact it had on her own children’s lives. She continued this advocacy through her work with the Delaware PTA State Board and as a contributor to Delaware’s “Race to the Top” pilot grant program in partnership with the Governor’s Office. After moving to Colorado, Ashley became the director of a family housing program serving underserved communities in Adams County, a suburb of Denver. Most recently, she began volunteering at the Denver Zoo, focusing her efforts on expanding children’s programming. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 17, at Grisell Funeral Home & Crematory in Moundsville, West Virginia. Friends may visit from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with a service to follow at 1:00 led by Ashley’s uncle, The Reverend Robert Murphy (Lynn Dalzell) of Clearwater, Florida. Interment at Riverview Cemetery, Moundsville, will be private for the family. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that friends honor Ashley through cherished memories or by making a donation to Camp Arrowhead Episcopal Church Camp, c/o All Saints Church, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.