Obituary for George S. Gracie Jr.
George S. Gracie Jr. – Age 84, beloved husband of Constance M. (Depper, married for 63 yrs.) Gracie died Monday at their home surrounded by his family.
He was born in Lowell, September 23, 1931, a son of the late George S. Gracie Sr. and Althea M. (McBride) Gracie and lived in Billerica all of his life. He graduated from the Howe High School in Billerica in 1949 where he was a three-sport athlete chosen as male athlete for the class. George turned down a West Point appointment to play football at Boston University where he earned both a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Education. After college he proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a First Lieutenant.
Mr. Gracie was employed as a both a Physical Education Teacher, Administrator, and Coach by the Town of Billerica for 36 years. In addition, he was a longtime basketball, baseball and football official at high school and college level. He was instrumental in establishing and coaching PAL Basketball and Pop Warner Football. George was inducted into the Howe/BMHS Athletic Hall of Fame in the initial group.
George also drove for the Greyhound Bus Company for 20 years. Like his father before him, he served as a Selectman for the Town of Billerica. He also served on the Permanent School Building Committee and was instrumental in the building of the Hallenborg Rink, Marshall, Locke, Kennedy and Dutile playing fields and tennis courts.
George was an avid gardener. Besides the company of his family, George enjoyed vacationing in Gilford, NH as well as Claremont, FL.
Besides his wife, Mr. Gracie is survived by his daughters, Debra Sarno, Donna Jenkins, Dale Medugno, Denise and her husband Eric Dempsey all of Billerica; his sister, Pauline & Ernest Shaw of CT; his brother in law, Warner Hiers of Granville; his sister in law June Casey and her husband Bud of Worcester; his grandchildren, Lee and his wife Mandee, Courtney and Shayla Sarno, Kerry Jenkins and her partner Rich Flynn, Amy Burke and her husband John, Peter Jenkins Jr. and his wife Erin, Eric Jenkins, Veronica Schaefer and her husband Jay, Nicholas Medugno, Marguerite and Joshua Dempsey, Daniel, Barbara, Timothy, Ryan and John Jenkins; great grandfather of Peter III, Jack, Layla, Cody, Althea, Sam, Gracie and Lucas. He was the brother of the late Marilyn Hiers. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
GRACIE – Of Billerica, April 4, George S. Gracie Jr., Funeral Friday from the SWEENEY MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME, 66 Concord Rd., Billerica at 10 a.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Theresa Church at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends respectfully invited. Visiting hours will be held Thursday from 4-7 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Jimmy Fund, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284. Burial in Fox Hill Cemetery, Billerica.
Read More
He was born in Lowell, September 23, 1931, a son of the late George S. Gracie Sr. and Althea M. (McBride) Gracie and lived in Billerica all of his life. He graduated from the Howe High School in Billerica in 1949 where he was a three-sport athlete chosen as male athlete for the class. George turned down a West Point appointment to play football at Boston University where he earned both a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Education. After college he proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a First Lieutenant.
Mr. Gracie was employed as a both a Physical Education Teacher, Administrator, and Coach by the Town of Billerica for 36 years. In addition, he was a longtime basketball, baseball and football official at high school and college level. He was instrumental in establishing and coaching PAL Basketball and Pop Warner Football. George was inducted into the Howe/BMHS Athletic Hall of Fame in the initial group.
George also drove for the Greyhound Bus Company for 20 years. Like his father before him, he served as a Selectman for the Town of Billerica. He also served on the Permanent School Building Committee and was instrumental in the building of the Hallenborg Rink, Marshall, Locke, Kennedy and Dutile playing fields and tennis courts.
George was an avid gardener. Besides the company of his family, George enjoyed vacationing in Gilford, NH as well as Claremont, FL.
Besides his wife, Mr. Gracie is survived by his daughters, Debra Sarno, Donna Jenkins, Dale Medugno, Denise and her husband Eric Dempsey all of Billerica; his sister, Pauline & Ernest Shaw of CT; his brother in law, Warner Hiers of Granville; his sister in law June Casey and her husband Bud of Worcester; his grandchildren, Lee and his wife Mandee, Courtney and Shayla Sarno, Kerry Jenkins and her partner Rich Flynn, Amy Burke and her husband John, Peter Jenkins Jr. and his wife Erin, Eric Jenkins, Veronica Schaefer and her husband Jay, Nicholas Medugno, Marguerite and Joshua Dempsey, Daniel, Barbara, Timothy, Ryan and John Jenkins; great grandfather of Peter III, Jack, Layla, Cody, Althea, Sam, Gracie and Lucas. He was the brother of the late Marilyn Hiers. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
GRACIE – Of Billerica, April 4, George S. Gracie Jr., Funeral Friday from the SWEENEY MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME, 66 Concord Rd., Billerica at 10 a.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Theresa Church at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends respectfully invited. Visiting hours will be held Thursday from 4-7 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Jimmy Fund, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284. Burial in Fox Hill Cemetery, Billerica.
Previous Events
Visitation
Thursday
7
Apr
4:00 PM
- 7:00 PM
Sweeney Memorial Funeral Home
66 Concord Road
Billerica, MA 01821
Funeral Mass
Friday
8
Apr
11:00 AM
St. Theresa Church
466 Boston Rd.
Billerica, MA 01821
Burial
Friday
8
Apr
Fox Hill Cemetery
130 Andover Rd.
Billerica, MA 01821
Loading...