Obituaries 09-24-2014

Virginia Roberts

Retired Everett Purchasing

Department Secretary

Virginia S. (Formosi) Roberts of Nashua, formerly of Everett, passed away on September 21. She was 94 years old.

Prior to her retirement, Mrs. Roberts was the first secretary for the City of Everett Purchasing Department and a clerk for the Federal Government War Department.

She was the beloved wife of the late Edward A. Roberts; loving mother of the late Edward M. Roberts; cherished grandmother of Renee Roberts of Nashua, NH; cherished great grandmother of April Jean Thomas of Revere; dear sister of William Formosi of Lynnfield and the late Eva Covino, the late Frances Kerns, and the late Jessie Forti.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend a visitation at the JF Ward Funeral Home, 772 Broadway, Everett, today, Wednesday, September 24 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon followed by a Woodlawn Chapel service in Woodlawn Cemetery, 302 Elm St., Everett, at 12:30 p.m. For directions and online guest book visit jfwardfuneralhome.com

Luther Dean Gurley

Longtime GE Welder; US Army veteran involved in Bay of Pigs Invasion

Luther Dean Gurley of Everett,passed away at Mass General Hospital on September 15. He was 71 years old.

Mr. Gurley was a US Army veteran and was involved in the Bay of Pigs Invasion. He was a longtime welder for GE and was a member of IUE-CWA Local #201.

He was the loving son of the late James Luther and Lucille (Gibson) Gurley; beloved husband of Dorothy Ann (DeFeo) Gurley; loving father of Rhonda Jean Gurley and “Luther” Dean Gurley II.; loving brother of the late Joyce Ann Baker, John Wayne, Jack, and Ray Gurley; cherished uncle of John Archibald, Jr and his wife, Desiree Zicko, Maria Burke and her husband, Patrick and cherished great uncle of Meaghan Lorraine, Colin Patrick, Tucker Scott, and Luke John. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the JF Ward Funeral Home, Everett,.Interment was in Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the National Pancreas Foundation. Visit pancreasfoundation.org. For online guest book. visit jfwardfuneralhome.com

Joan Harris

Member of Emmanuel Baptist Church

Joan Harris, a long time Everett resident, passed away at Glen Ridge Nursing Care Center in Medford on September 16. She was 77 years old.

Joan was born on March 12, 1937 in Everett, one of nine children of the late Jerry and Gladys (Gray) Martin. She was a long-time Everett resident and graduated Everett High School, Class of 1955.

Joan was a charter member of Emmanuel Baptist Church. She was a Trustee, an usher, sang in the Les Chanteurs and worked in the nursery. Joan volunteered for the Walk for Hunger for years. She was a devoted worker at the Food Pantry at Emmanuel. She was also an avid bowler and a member of the Women’s Volleyball Team at the YMCA and the senior exercise class at the Everett Armory.

Joan lived her life with love and appreciation for her family and her many friends and is going up yonder to be with her Lord.

She was the loving wife of the late Robert Harris who predeceased her in 2011. She was the devoted stepmother of Laureen Jayne (Harris) Serrano, Robert Taylor Harris and Dwayne Michael Harris; the cherished grandmother of Chivonne Bailer, Charles Bailer III, Dwayne (DJ) Harris, Robert T. Harris, Jr., Michael Harris, and the great grandmother of Deja Wallace, Isaac Williams and Avery Harris. She was Godmother of Jill Armstrong, Staci Holt and Kenny Riel; the sister of Robert Martin of Framingham, Dorothy Long of Everett and Richard Martin of Everett, the late Gladys (Gerry) Jefferson, William (Brother) Martin, Helen Reape, Betty Watson and Carol Holt. She also leaves to mourn a host of nieces, nephews and cousins as well as many friends.

A Funeral Service will be held today, Wednesday Evening at 7 p.m. at The Emmanuel Baptist Church, 20 Hillside Avenue, Malden with a period of visitation from 4 to 7 p.m. at the church. Interment will be on Thursday at 11 a.m. in Puritan Lawn Cemetery in Peabody. In lieu of flowers, make donations to The Emmanuel Baptist Building Fund. Arrangements are by The Murphy O’Hara Funeral Home, 519 Broadway, Everett.

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