It is with great sorrow that the Canton Fire Department announces the passing of Firefighter Charles L. Gray Sr.

The Funeral for Charles Lewis “Charlie” Gray, Sr. will be Saturday morning May 18, 2019 at 10:30 at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Caroline Street, Ogdensburg, with The Reverend Art Garno, officiating. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery in Canton.

Mr. Gray died Sunday afternoon May 12 at his home at 6224 CR 27, under the care of his wife and family and Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley.

Calling hours will be Thursday and Friday afternoon from 4-7 at IslandView Funeral Services, 300 Main Street, Morristown.

The America’s Boating Club, “United States Power Squadron”, will meet at the Funeral Home at 6:00 on Thursday evening and the Canton Fire Department will hold a service, also on Thursday evening at 6:45 at the Funeral Home.

Surviving Charlie are his wife, Judy; one son, Charles L. “Chip”, Jr. and his companion, Nancy Almaraz, St. Leonard, MD; one daughter, Karen Hampson and her husband Jeff, Canton; five grandchildren, Michelle Walker, Troy, OH, Charles L. Gray, III, Lusby, MD; Allyssa E, Hampson, Langhorne, PA, Erin N. Hampson, Liverpool, NY, Abigail E. ”Abby” Hampson, Canton; two great grandchildren; Peyton E. and Brayden Walker, Troy, OH, one sister; Margaret “Peggy” Caneen and her husband, John, Poland, NY and nieces.

Born on February 20, 1939 in Potsdam, NY, he was the son of Clarence Vernon and Mary Emma Lewis Gray.

In 1956, Mr. Gray graduated from Canton High School, where he was the goalie on the Canton “Golden Bears” High School Hockey Team.

On February 26, 1962, he married Judy Elizabeth Lawrence, in Jacksonville, FL with Rev. Robert M.G. Libby, officiating.

In 1957, Charlie joined the United States Navy, where he was an Electronics Technician and retired in 1974.

Then in 1974, he and his family returned to Canton, where he went to work at the Corning Glass Works, Canton Plant in the Quality Control Department until 1980. In 1980 Charlie was hired by the U.S. Department of Defense as a Quality Assurance Representative until he retired in 1994.

From 1995 until 2003 Mr. Gray drove bus for Flack Tours, often times driving St. Lawrence University teams to and from events.

He was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ogdensburg and the AmVets Post in Potsdam, NY. For many years, Charlie served as a member and Secretary of the Canton Lions Club. Charlie had served as Education Officer for the local St. Lawrence Squadron and also served a term of District Six Commander for the US Power Squadron.

An avid boater, for many years, he started as a Tour Guide on the Uncle Sam Boat Tours, where he had become interested while spending summers at the family cottage located at Oak Point on the St. Lawrence River.

Over the years the couple owned a total of 9 boats used on the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario. They were longtime members of the Brockville, Ontario Yacht Club.

If friends desire contributions can be made in his honor to Canton Fire and Rescue, 77 Riverside Drive, Canton 13617, or to St. John’s Episcopal Church, Caroline Street, Ogdensburg, 13669 or to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.