Raymond "Ray" Petell, Sr.

Raymond A."Ray" Petell, Sr., 94, passed away on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, after a short illness. Born in Lanesborough, MA on March 6, 1930, he was the son of Madaline Bradley Noble and Joseph Petell. Ray attended Lanesborough schools until the age of 16 when he quit school to support his mother and three younger siblings.

Much of his upbringing was spent on the Bradley Farm in Lanesborough where he was doted on by his loving grandmother, Jenny Bradley. His first job was working for his great uncle "Clayt" on the farm, who was blind and taught him his work ethic for the sum of 10 cents per week. He later worked at the Esso station in Pittsfield and several construction companies.

Ray enlisted in the US Army in 1951 and took a ship across the ocean and spent the next two years in France and Germany, rebuilding roads and bridges that had been destroyed during World War II. He was honorably discharged as a Corporal in 1953.

Ray was a very proud member of  International Union of Operating Engineers Local 98, for 50 years. He would reminisce about building roads, blasting through rocks and he could operate any piece of heavy equipment. He started working for the Petricca family after tricking them into thinking he knew how to drive a "yuke"; he figured it out quickly. One of the most famous projects he worked on was at Bear Swamp (Yankee Rowe Nuclear Power Station). The steep grade was extremely dangerous and he became the dare-devil who did the work that no one else was willing to do. He also worked on the Tennessee pipeline in Sturbridge.

He co-owned a junkyard and a towing business with his wife. He was always hauling junk or towing cars. He loved Cadillacs and owned many over the years. He loved antique fire trucks and owned a 1919, American LaFrance pumper and other fire trucks. He loved being in parades and competing in the firemen's musters.

Ray was best known for telling jokes and pulling pranks, like hanging cars in trees. He had many speeding tickets early on, and told stories of drag racing up the Greylock road to the summit , and on route 7 in reverse!

He was predeceased by his wife, Betty-Lou Daniels Petell and infant son, his beloved brother, Richard "Dick" Petell and his parents.

He leaves two sisters; Carol LeBarron and her husband Ernie of Hancock and Sherida MacWhinne and her husband Ronald of Columbia Crossroads, PA and sister-in-laws: Ruth Petell of New Lebanon, NY.  His children; Cheryl Ann Petell of Pittsfield; Linda Cachat of Dalton and her husband Michael; Raymond Petell, Jr., of Benton, Maine and his wife Sheila; Dennis Petell of Hinsdale; Daniel Petell of Dalton and his wife Cheryl; Sandra Williams of North Adams and her husband Sandy; Brenda Petell; Ann Heath of Dalton and her husband Harold. 27 Grandchildren, 57 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He leaves in-laws,  Margaret "Peg" Gardner of Bennington, Vermont; George Daniels and his wife Edith of Hinsdale; Mary Adams and her husband David of Pittsfield; Jeanne Musgrove and her husband John "Jack" of Pensacola, Florida.

Funeral Notice:

Funeral services for Mr. Raymond "Ray" Petell will be Friday, April 12, 2024, at 3pm at the First Congregational Church of Hinsdale, 129 Maple St., Hinsdale MA 01235. Burial with full military honors will follow at Maple Street Cemetery in Hinsdale. Calling hours at the church will be held directly prior to the service, from 1pm to 3pm.  

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Berkshire United Way, Food Pantry Support, www.berkshireunitedway.org/donate