NATICK: Lester H. Gray, age 86, a longtime Natick resident, died Friday afternoon, September 25, 2015, at Seasons Inpatient Center in Milton after a brief illness. He was the devoted husband of the late Joan (Crimmin) Gray.
Born in Portage, PA, he was a son of the late Lester and Anna (Supina) Gray. Lester’s father was with the Army Corps of Engineers and thus the family moved often, living primarily in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Massachusetts. Les was a graduate of Wayland High School and continued his education at Northeastern University. He entered the United States Marine Corps and served during the Korean War as a sergeant with the 7th Engineering Battalion.
Les returned to Massachusetts, married and settled in Natick in 1954. A talented finish carpenter, he found employment through his 65+ year membership with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Local 40. During the 1980s, Les and a friend and fellow carpenter, Dick Vanaria, formed a partnership they named Vangray Carpentry. For the past several years he was employed with Whittemore Hardware and Remodeling Company. Les was last working on a roof on September 1st. Remodeling
A man who truly loved his work, Les was proud to have worked as a finish carpenter at such area landmarks as Helen Keller’s Home, the Gardiner Museum, The Museum of Science, the Prudential and Hancock Buildings, and for such companies as SBLI, Digital and Polaroid. He was fond of horseback riding, bass fishing, particularly overnight, and ice fishing.
Predeceased by a daughter, Lee Anne Gray, and a great-grandson, Ethan Gray, Les is survived by a son, Jeffrey Gray of Upton; his daughter Lynn J. Gray and granddaughter Caitlin, with whom he shared his home; grandchildren Cheryl Lawler and her husband John of WA, John Waters of FL, Chris Gray and his wife Melissa of Sherborn, and Joshua Gray and his wife Annie of Whitman; and seven great-grandchildren, Jim, Joe, Tom, Jarod, Caroline, Jack, and Ryan; and dear friend Richard Vanaria and his wife Pat of Natick.
His funeral service will be held on Friday, October 2nd, in Glenwood Cemetery, 50 Glenwood Street, South Natick, at 11:00AM. Les’ grandson, the Rev. Joshua Gray, will officiate. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 or online at https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/default.aspx?tsid=72.