Mr. George Gracey

MR. George (Geordie) Gracey, who died in Newry on May 12, 2014, after a long battle with Parkinson’s and prostate cancer, was a native of Downpatrick and was well known in the town.

He was buried in Monkshill Cemetry, beside his grandson Eamon, after a service in St. Patrick and St Colman’s Cathedral, Newry.

The son of Mina and Thomas Gracey and the eldest of a family of ten, he was born in Scotch Street, Downpatrick, on April 2, 1927. After a time the family moved to Bridge Street where George enjoyed many wonderful times in a street that was full of characters and where he eventually became a founder member of the Mount Cricket Club.

After completing his education at St. Patrick’s Secondary School in Edward Street, George became a grocer’s assistant at shops owned by Mr. Osfred D. Hamilton and Mr. William McKeating. He was an excellent worker and made many customers happy through his natural personality and wit.

On June 26, 1951, he married Molly Young, also from Bridge Street, who had moved to Downpatrick from the Short Strand area of Belfast in 1941 during the war years. They were married in St. Patrick’s Church, Downpatrick. In 1952 their first son, Jackie, was born and ten more children followed.

A career as a bus conductor then commenced with the Ulster Transport Authority in the local bus station and he also worked as a window cleaner to support his large family.

In October 1970 George moved to Peterborough in England, with his wife and eleven children. He took up employment with the Midland Bus Company. George then joined Perkins Engines and worked there for a number of years, whilst trying many other ventures, including property development.

All were successful but not really what he and Molly wanted to do. They always yearned to return home, despite making many friends and being heavily involved within the Irish community in Peterborough.

In 1989, after spending 19 years in England, George and Molly, along with their daughter Caroline and grandson Ciaran, decided to return home. They settled in Newry to where their son, Jackie, his wife, Mary, and family had previously returned.

George was considered by the locals to be easy-going and a character, especially when he commenced construction of a large trailer in his front garden. He quickly gained quite a considerable male fan club and lots of friends.

He had a great personality and a big laugh. Never daunted, nor depressed, his positive attitude made him a pleasure to work with. George was always ‘hands on’. He was always working at the house with the weekend help of his grandchildren.

George was a talented man with vision, who made the biggest contribution to community life in the local area. He will always be remembered for his wise counsel of everyday life and events. He was a keen gardener, a lover of traditional Irish music.

He also wrote a number of poems, which were published in the Down Recorder.

Throughout his 87 years of life George loved his hometown of Downpatrick and always let people knew, in his travels, that he was a Downpatrick man. He visited relatives often and enjoyed a pint of Smithwick’s in some of the local hostelries.

George is survived by his wife, Molly, sons Jackie, Gerard, Seamus, Michael, Gregory and Paul and daughters Kathleen, Caroline, Diane, Patricia and Karen.