TEWKSBURY: Joseph S. Ray, Sr., age 73, a resident of Tewksbury for over 45 years, died Tuesday, June 1, 2004 at the Saints Memorial Medical Center in Lowell.
He was the husband of Claire M. (Sardy) Ray who died September 22, 2003.
Born in Woburn on July 17, 1930, he was the son of the late Salvatore and Lena (Bonasera) Ray.
Mr. Ray was raised in Woburn. He attended Woburn schools and was graduated from Somerville Trade school in 1948.
Mr. Ray lived in Woburn, Malden and Billerica until moving to Tewksbury in 1956.
He was employed by the Carpenters Union Local # 149 for over 30 years. Mr. Ray later worked for the First National Food Store Company for 10 years. In addition, he was a self employed carpenter until retiring in 2002.
He enjoyed woodworking, constructing doll houses, repairing cars and motorcycles and caring for his dog “Babe”.
In earlier years, he was active with Tewksbury Boy Scout Troop # 133.
He is survived by 5 children; Millie (Ray)(Arsenault) Burke and her husband Tom of Tyngsboro, Deborah A. (Ray)Bean of Lowell, Roberta A. Ray-Winget of Dracut, Joseph S. Ray, Jr. and his wife Darlene (Kelly) of Wilmington and Diane M. Ray and her fiancé Bryce Miller of Las Vegas, NV; 12 grandchildren; Jaimie H. and Andrew J. Arsenault, Richard A. Bean, Jr. and his wife Julie, Erica E. Bean and her fiancé Anthony Ayoub, Elizabeth A. and Phillip M. Bean, Albert H. Winget, III, Jennifer L. Winget, Eric J. Richardson, Katelyn C. Ray, Candace C. and Zachary T. Miller; 3 great grandchildren; Nathaniel R. and Gabriel F. Bean and Trevor J. Kelly; his brother-in-law; Joseph Sardy and his wife Dottie of Woburn.
Mr. Ray was the father-in-law of the late Richard A. Bean, Sr. and brother of the late Lena Milner.
Calling hours Friday 5-7 p.m. at the FARMER & DEE FUNERAL HOME, 16 LEE ST., TEWKSBURY. A memorial service will follow the calling hours at 7 p.m. at the funeral home. At the request of the family OMIT FLOWERS. Donations in his memory to the American Lung Assoc., P.O. Box 265, Burlington, MA 01803 would be appreciated.