SANFORD — Russell E. Gray, 84, of Sanford, died on Monday, March 31, 2014 at Southern Maine Health Care in Sanford.
Russell was born on March 27, 1930, to Oscar and Grace (Finson) Gray in Wells, where he grew up and attended local schools, graduating from Wells High School.
Russell possessed a strong work ethic from a young age. When he was in high school, he was also employed there as the school janitor. He would wake up early each day and walk the two miles to the school, in time to prepare the building and light the stove before the other students would arrive.
Following graduation, he worked on his family’s farm for a couple of years before entering the U.S. Army, where he proudly served for two years during the Korean Conflict.
In 1956, he married Joanne Levesque, and together they raised two children and shared 45 years of marriage, until her death in 2001.
After completing his term in the military, Russell worked for 28 years at P.R. Boston in North Berwick, which eventually became known as Warren Brothers and then Tilcon. He went on to work for the Sanford Highway department for 17 years. Russell also cut fire wood for many years when he was younger, co-owned and operated R & R Paving for 30 years, and helped to operate his family farm, raising cows, chickens, pigs and vegetables.
He was an outdoorsman and liked to go hunting. He also enjoyed working for his son at Gray and Sons Builders and going out plowing with him in the winter time. He was a very easy going and quiet man with a dry sense of humor. He will be remembered as a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather, and will be dearly missed by his friends and family.
Russell was a member of the Sanford Elks Lodge and the VFW.
Russell was preceded in death by: his wife, Joanne; two brothers, Elliot and Floyd; and three sisters, Helen Matthews, Ethel Gray and Marion Paquin.
Surviving are: his two children, Gary Gray and his wife Terri and Donna Gray, all of Sanford; five grandchildren, Heather Tederous and her husband John, Tiffany Edwards and her husband Chad, Evan Gray and his wife Katie, Samantha Gray and Jenna Gray, all of Sanford; two step-grandchildren, Kyle Stackpole of Utah and Cody Stackpole of Sanford; two great-grandchildren, Ella and Mia Tederous; close friend, Arlene Hatch of Sanford; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, April 3 at the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, located at 580 Main St. in Springvale. A funeral service with military honors will be held at the funeral home at 9 a.m. on Friday, April 4. Arrangements are under the direction of Black Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Sanford-Springvale. To leave a message of condolence for the family, visit www.blackfuneralhomes.com.
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