Lawrence J Derry died of natural causes at the Horizon Bay Assisted Living Facility, Vero Beach Florida on June 23, 2014. He was born in Worcester, Massachusetts April 12, 1921 to Christina V (Shea) and Henry Derry. He graduated from North High School, Worcester, MA. in 1939 and Clark College (AKA, University), Worcester MA, in 1942 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Economics. He joined the Army Air Corp in early 1943 hoping to become a bomber navigator. Due to a severe illness he was honorably discharged in September 1943.
After a brief stint as a social worker, he worked in the Post Office and then as a wage and hour investigator for the U.S. Department of Labor. As an investigator, he checked companies in the New England area for compliance to wage and overtime regulations. Many Companies would misclassify a non-management employee as a management to avoid paying overtime.
In 1980 he retired from the Federal Government. A lifelong bachelor, he was very generous to his sisters and their families. After retirement he summered in his beloved Cape Cod cottage on Nantucket Sound and wintered in his apartment at Vero Beach, Florida.
He is survived by his sister Katherine J Fuller and six nieces and nephews; Kathleen E. Pender, Carol A Schultz, Mary Jane St. Francis, Herbert L Cheever, Gerald H Cheever and Lawrence J Cheever.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Mary C Cheever, his sister Dolly Derry, his niece Jane Armour and nephew Donald Fuller.
Lawrence's funeral service will be held on Wednesday, July 2, 2014, at 10:30 am in Saint Mary of the Hills Church 630 Cross Street Boylston, MA 01505. Calling hours will be held at Nordgren Memorial Chapel 300 Lincoln St. Worcester, MA 01605 on Wednesday, July 2, 2014 from 8:15-10:00 a.m, before processing to the church. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery, Worcester. To leave a message of condolence in the online guestbook, please click link below.