AUGUSTA — Lester H. Gray Jr., 77, formerly of Bowdoin was guided to Heaven to fish the crystal waters on September 3, 2016. He was born on June 30, 1939 In Arrowsic, ME the second child of ten children to the late Lester H., Sr. and Josephine (Newbert) Gray. He graduated from Bowdoinham Elementary and attended Richmond High School.

In 1957 he served in the U.S. Army as a Military Police Officer. He received a marksman medal for pistol and a marksman medal for rifle. In 1958 he met Leatrice Pottle and was soon married. They were blessed with three children. Then, in 1974, he married Nancy (Reed) Gray where they were blessed with 27 years of marriage.

During the years, Lester worked as a woodsman, concrete floor and foundation worker for 25 years and then a foreman for steel work and welding until his retirement in January of 1995. Lester was an avid fisherman where he was always known to be at Lake Auburn on April 1st and photographed by the newspaper numerous times with the “catch of the day”. He also loved to hunt and ice fish. He often talked about becoming a Game Warden, but never pursued it. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles 618 in Lewiston.

Lester is survived by his son, Peter J. Gray, Sr. and his wife Tina of Windsor where he also resided for the last several years, a daughter, Belinda (Gray) Stevens and her husband Robert of Augusta and a daughter, Rhonda Bowker and her husband Richard of Winthrop. He is also survived by his brothers Stanley Gray of Florida, Charles Gray and his wife Sharron of CT., and Richard Gray of Bowdoinham, his sisters; Edith (Gray) Elwell of Brunswick, Patricia Cobb of Bowdoinham, Velma (Gray) Brown of Brunswick, Hazel Griffin and Juanita (Gray) West and her husband Gordon of PA. Lester also leaves behind four grandchildren, Peter J. Gray, Jr. and his companion Brenda Fisher of Thomaston, Tanya Fanning and her companion Chris McGuire of Augusta, and Nichole (Mullens) Hayward and her husband Josh also of Augusta along with five greatgrandchildren, Brandon DeBrosky and Brady Gray of Thomaston, Alyssa and Austin Fanning of Windsor and Abigail Hayward of Augusta and several nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles. He was predeceased by a daughter, Brenda Lee Gray, his first wife Leatrice Pottle in 2000, his second wife Nancy in 2002, a brother, Francis Gray in 1994, a sister-in-law, Wanda and a brother-in-law, Albert .

Condolences may be shared with the family at www.crosmanfuneralhome.com.

Visiting hours will be held on Friday September 9, 2016 at the funeral home from 10- 11am followed by a Celebration of Lester’s life at 11am also at the funeral home. Interment with military honors will be held at a later date at the Maine Veterans Cemetery in Augusta. Arrangements are under the care of Crosman Funeral Home, Cremation and Monument Services 40 Main St. Lisbon Falls.