Raymond "Pudgie" Gray

Raymond "Pudge" Gray aged 73 of Athol, Ma. passed away on Sunday, June, 25, 2017 at UMass Medical in Worcester. He leaves his wife of 34 years, Dorothy Gray. Ray was very proud of his hometown, W. Concord, and he enjoyed his years playing with his little league baseball team, "The Redsox".

Born at Emerson Hospital in Concord on September 25, 1943, he was the son of the late Philip and Virginia Gray of Laws Brook road. He was a graduate of Concord-Carlisle High School and was a member of the class of 1961.

After graduating, he enlisted in the United States Navy as part of the Navy KiddieCruise program. In at 17 out at 21. He attended boot camp at Little Creek, Virginia and went on to qualify for BUDS program, after completing "Hell Week" he was injured and moved on to serve aboard the USS Escape,a US Navy salvage ship. Ray was discharged at 21 and went to work at the GM plant in Framingham until they closed and he was transferred to Harrison Radiator in Lockport, NY. He retired in 1994 and he and his wife enjoyed traveling all over New England .

Along with his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Tammy Peralta and her husband Marty, of Maynard, MA. And Judi Shaffer and her husband Tim of Hillsborough, NH.a stepson, Rick Lawrence of Tuscon AZ., two granddaughters, Missy and Madi Peralta of Maynard Ma., his Uncle Stanley Orpick of W.Concord ,sister-law Martha and her husband Richard of Shirley, Ma. Pudge also leaves his lifetime friend John Alden, of Hyannis, Ma and Pudgies constant companion, Boots "The Cat" and many cousins and nieces and nephews.

Family and friends and family will gather to remember Pudge on Sat.,July 15 at the Concord Funeral Home,74 Belknap Street, Concord from 10:am to 11:00 am followed by a Celebration of his life at 11:00am concluding with a graveside ceremony with full military honors in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

Donations may be made in Pudgies memory to Mission K9 Rescue, which rescues Military/War dogs and prepares them for civilian adoption. www.missionk9rescue.org