Obit -- Raymond G. Gress Sr.

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated at St. Stephen R.C. Church on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010, for Raymond G. Gress Sr. of Grand Island. He passed away peacefully at the age of 83, surrounded by his family members, on Dec. 12 in Hospice Buffalo.

An Island resident since 1967, Gress had a lengthy career as an officer with the New York State Park Police and worked at Beaver Island State Park. Following his 1984 retirement, he divided his time between winters in Florida and summers on Grand Island, and enjoyed his boats and motorcycles.

He and his wife, Carol, traveled extensively, both abroad and throughout the U.S. Gress enjoyed camping and traveling the country in his motor home, and particularly loved going on cruises with family and friends.

Raymond will be sadly missed and remembered by his wife of 30 years, Carol Stone Gress; by his children: Raymond (Chris) Gress Jr., John (Carla) Gress and Cindy (Robert) Remmy; by his stepchildren: Jeff (Eileen) Stone, Deborah Stone Hutzler, Susan (Michael) Braun and Eric (Julie) Stone; by 16 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and several treasured pets.

A U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served in World War II, Gress was buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery with military honors.