Ruth M. Gray

CHICOPEE-Ruth M. Gray, 84, died August 6, 2011 at home. Born on July 8, 1927 in Brooklyn, NY to the late Nils and Gudrun (Strom) Pettersen, she was a devoted mother to five sons and she and her family traveled throughout the US, Canada and Europe with the US Air Force, settling at Westover Air Force Base in 1965 having arrived from Goose Bay, Labrador, Newfoundland. She had worked at the Base Exchange and at Service Merchandise. For over 50 years her family has maintained a home on Green Lake in Dedham, ME. Ruth enjoyed crocheting, knitting and ceramics. Predeceased by her parents, she leaves her husband, James Gray of Chicopee, MA; sons: Wayne and his wife, Efstratia of Colorado Springs, CO, Alan and his wife, Germaine of Seattle, WA, Jeffrey and his wife, Joanne of Salem, NH, Cary and his wife, Paula of Chicopee, MA and Kirk and his wife, Cindy of Feeding Hills, MA; sister, Barbra Pettersen Belmonte of East Canaan, CT; grandchildren: James, Jason, Spenser, Torrey, Jeffrey, Jonathan, Eric, Duncan, Ian, Nicoletta, Anne and Laura; great grandchildren; niece, Ingrid A. Mahoney and her husband, John of New Hartford, CT; great nephews, and her dog, Tulla. Services will be at the convenience of the family. New England Funeral & Cremation Center, LLC 25 Mill Street, Springfield, MA has been entrusted with the arrangements. For expressions of sympathy visit www.nefcc.net