John   F.   McGrail

1933 – 2009

AUGUSTA — John F. McGrail, 76, of Maple Street and of Main Street, Jonesport, died Wednesday, Dec. 9, at MaineGeneral Medical Center after a brief illness.

He was born in Worcester, Mass., on Aug. 1, 1933, a son of the late Francis J. and Mary H. (Kelliher) McGrail. He was a 1951 graduate of Cony High School and attended Burdette Junior College from 1955 to 1957.

He was a Navy veteran, serving during the Korean War. He was employed as a salesman in the shoe industry for 25 years. After his career in sales, he worked locally for Hussey Hardware and Kennebec Savings Bank in Augusta.

He was a communicant of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church and was a member of the St. Mary’s Men’s Club and Abnaki Council 334 Third Degree Knights of Columbus; former treasurer of Children with Learning Disabilities; on the advisory committee for the state Department of Labor during the Brennan administration; and state champion in the half-mile in track and field in 1951.

For the past 20 years, he summered in Jonesport. He truly enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Judith M. (Murphy) McGrail, of Augusta; two sons, Michael McGrail and his wife, Bethany, of Wayne, and Norman McGrail and his wife, Edith, of Windsor; two daughters, Susan Berube and her husband, Paul, of Augusta, and Betsy McGrail and her husband, Dr. Thomas Page, of Leeds; a sister, Mary Bourque, of Portland; eight grandchildren, Christine and Paul Berube, James and Kate Boyman, Sean and Brendan McGrail, and Katelyn and Molly McGrail; as well as several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by a son, Charles McGrail; and a daughter, Margaret McGrail.