Roy Hagerty Jr., 81, Was Navy Veteran, Machinist

Roy Francis (Sonny) Hagerty Jr., of the Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro, died unexpectedly at his residence on Saturday, August 12. He was 81.

He was the husband of Dorothy A. Fallows Hagerty, to whom he was married on August 31, 1946.

Born in Attleboro on July 30, 1925, he was a son of the late Roy F. Hagerty Sr. and Sarah G. Thurber Hagerty. He was raised and educated in Attleboro where he attended the Attleboro Trade High School prior to enlisting in the service.

Mr. Hagerty was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having enlisted on August 31, 1943, and serving honorably until his discharge on Feb. 4, 1946. He served aboard the USS Wasp, was the recipient of the World War II Victory Medal and earned eight bronze stars during his Asiatic-Pacific tour of duty.

Shortly after returning from the service and his marriage, Mr. Hagerty moved to Norton where he resided from 1948 to 1964, when he and his family moved to Mansfield. They resided there for 10 years prior to moving to North Attleboro in 1975.

He was a career machinist having last been employed by Engelhard Industries in Plainville for 30 years prior to his retirement at the age of 62 in 1987.

Mr. Hagerty was a former communicant of St. John the Evangelist Church in Attleboro and in recent years at St. Mark's Church in the Village of Attleboro Falls in North Attleboro.

While living in Norton, he served his community as a volunteer on-call firefighter; in Mansfield he was active with the Cub Scout program.

His favorite pastimes included fishing and golfing. He was a fan of the New England Patriots and just recently "began to like" the Boston Red Sox.

In addition to his wife of almost 60 years, he is survived by four children, Joyce A. Rose of Jaffrey, N.H., Wayne R. Hagerty of Norton, Carol D. Kelley of Edgartown and Roy F. Hagerty 3rd of North Attleboro; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

He was the brother of the late Bertha L. Lawton, Irene Rocha, Margaret Mullaney, Nora Mercier, Charles (Chickie) Hagerty and Harriet Hagerty.

A visitation with veterans' honors will be held on Wednesday, August 16, from 9 to 10 a.m. in the memorial chapel of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home in the Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro. Relatives and friends are then invited to the funeral service, with veterans' honors, which will follow at 10 a.m., also in the funeral home chapel. The Rev. Thomas C. Rita, pastor of St. Mark's Roman Catholic Church, will officiate.

Private services with full military honors will immediately follow in the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to any of the following organizations in memory of Mr. Hagerty: The American Lung Association, Massachusetts Chapter, 460 Totten Pond Road, Waltham, MA 02451; Affinity Hospice of Life, Massachusetts South Shore, 319 Manley street, West Bridgewater, MA 02379; or to the Life Care at Home, 319 Manley street, West Bridgewater, MA 02379.

To send the family an expression of sympathy, please visit the on-line register book at dyer-lakefuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home in the Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro. For more information, call 508-695-0200.