Ray W. McGrath

He was born November 30, 1922 in Roxbury, NH, the son of the late William and Rilla (Kendall) McGrath. He attended area schools and was a life-long resident of the Monadnock region. For a brief period of time following his schooling, he served in the United States Air Force.

On July 3, 1943, Ray married the love of his life, Gabrielle Bleau of Keene. They celebrated over 64 years of marriage before her death in 2007.

Ray had become an involved member of the United Church of Christ in Keene in recent years. He was an extremely generous man who volunteered his time serving the Society of the Protection of New Hampshire Forests where he received the award for Volunteer of the Year in 1998. He was also a member of the American Legion, Elks Lodge, and Italian Club. Ray enjoyed staying active, whether he was chopping wood or tending to his gardens. Beer and wine making had become a pastime of Ray’s. He was a true outdoorsman with a passion for hunting, fishing, and hiking. Ray will be fondly remembered for his congeniality and outgoing personality.

Ray will be dearly missed by his children: Donna Drouin and her husband Leo of Hoover, AL, Gloria Keefe of North Port, FL, Michael McGrath and his wife Carol of Swanzey, NH, Patricia Grace of Spofford, NH, and Steve McGrath and his wife Cindy of Keene, NH; grandchildren: Elizabeth Drouin-Collinsworth, Timothy Drouin, Joseph Quintillo, Dennis McGrath, Kelly McGrath-debit, Kara McGrath, Leah McGrath, and Megan McGrath; many collective generations of additional great-grandchildren and beyond; a brother: David McGrath of Folsom, CA; as well as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.

Ray is predeceased by his wife: Gabrielle McGrath; grandson: Alexander Miller; son-in-law: Donald Keefe; siblings: May Gatto, William McGrath, Bert McGrath, Esther Fish, Marjorie Hebert, and Bessie McGrath; and sister-in-law: Theresa McGrath.

Family and friends are invited to calling hours on Tuesday, May 8, 2018 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Fletcher Funeral Home, 33 Marlboro Street, Keene, NH. A funeral service to celebrate Ray’s life will take place on Wednesday, May 9 at 10:00 am at the Funeral Home. Burial will immediately follow at Monadnock View Cemetery, Park Ave, Keene, NH.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Ray W. McGrath’s name to the Society of the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, 54 Portsmouth Street, Concord, NH 03301 (www.ForestSociety.org) or to a charity of one’s choice.