Francis John Degregory

Francis John DeGregory, Sr., 89, former Massachusetts resident, died Saturday, June 21, 2008 at his residence on Valley Creek Road in the Culleoka Community. A funeral mass will be conducted Saturday, June 28, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Catherine Catholic Church with Reverend Davis Chackaleckel, M.S.F.S., officiating. The family will visit with friends from 9:30 a.m. to service time at the church. Burial will be in Fort Rosecrans Cemetery in San Diego, California at a later date. Oakes & Nichols Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to St. Catherine Catholic Church, 3019 Cayce Lane, Columbia 38401 or Hospice of the Highland Rim, 1412 Trotwood Avenue, Columbia 38401. Notes of sympathy may be sent to www.oakesandnichols.com. The Everett, Massachusetts native was the son of the late Joseph DeGregorio and Elvira Yunitz DeGregorio. He was a graduate of St. Clements High School in Somerville, Massachusetts. He served in the U. S. Army during World War II, attaining the rank of Master Sergeant. He was decorated for his participation in the second surge during the Battle of the Bulge in the European Theatre of Operation. For a number of years, he was welding supervisor at Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts. He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Evelyn Y. Kane DeGregory on July 6, 2006. Survivors include a son, Francis J. (Judith) DeGregory, Jr. of San Diego, California; three daughters, Janet Thompson of Culleoka, Ann (David) Diauto of Culleoka, and Gail Copeland of Lyndenboro, New Hampshire; a brother, John DeGregory of Tewksbury, Massachusetts; two sisters, Kathleen Rizzeri and Mary Davis of South Yarmouth, Massachusetts; 18 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren.