Ray G. MacCracken, 86, died peacefully on Sunday, June 27 in his daughter’s home on Elmwood Road.

    Ray was born in Fitchburg, on February 7, 1924, a son of the late Ray B. and Ruth K. (Kendall) MacCracken.  He attended Fitchburg High School before joining the U.S. Army, serving during WWII.  After his discharge from the Army, Ray returned home to graduate from Fitchburg High School.

    In 1950 he moved into his home on Elmwood Road in Lunenburg where he proudly raised his family. Ray was a longtime self employed insurance salesman.  He was a member and past master of the Aurora Lodge of Mason as well as the Aleppo Temple and Fitchburg/Leominster Shriners Club.  Ray had a true love of horses and one of his greatest joys was serving on the Aleppo Mounted Patrol.  He also served on the 250th and 275th Anniversary Committees for the Town of Lunenburg.

    His wife of 53 years, Mary ‘Lenore’ (Chapple) MacCracken, died in 1995.  He leaves three daughters, Heidi M. Conley of Shirley, Bonnie L. MacCracken-Bascomb and her husband, Dr. Gregory Bascomb of Amherst and Holly R. MacCracken of Lunenburg; a son, Dean B. MacCracken of San Rafael, CA; seven grandchildren, Brooke Holman, Maryrae Holman, Christopher, Gregory, Morgan and Hunter Bascomb and Christopher Martin; and a great-granddaughter, Raegan Bascomb.

    A funeral services will be held on Friday, July 2, at 11 a.m. in the Lunenburg Chapel of the Sawyer-Miller-Masciarelli Funeral Homes, 763 Mass Ave.  Burial will follow in South Cemetery.  

    Calling hours at the funeral home will be held on Thursday, July 1 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. with a Masonic ritual to be held at 7 p.m.  

    In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 51 Blossom St., Boston, MA 02114.