Joseph Raymond James "Ray" Birt, 85 of Ashland passed away Fri. Dec. 27th after a period of declining health. Born in Island Pond, VT on November 6, 1939, the son of the late Ernest and Barbara (Duguay) Laitres. The youngest of 11, he was adopted by his aunt and uncle, Marion and John Birt, when his parents died and was raised in Cambridge, MA. In 1957 he graduated from Ringe Technical High School, served in the Army in Berlin Germany, joined the National Guard and retired after 20+ years and he worked as a Postal Clerk for 28 years. After his retirement he moved to Ashland and was an active member of the VFW Post 2331, St. Cecilia's Parish and the Knights of Columbus.

Mr. Birt is survived by his wife, Edelgard and their children; Martina & Steve, Raymond & Garth, Angela & Jeffrey and Cheryl & Chuck; grandchildren; Adriane, John and his wife Ariana Smart, Asa and Eliana Gladstein; great grandson, Owen Smart; one brother Paul and his wife Rae, two sister-in-laws, Mary, and many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday Jan. 3rd at 11:00am in St. Cecilia's Church, 54 Esty St. Ashland, MA with burial in Wildwood Cemetery in Ashland. Visiting hours will be held Thursday Jan. 2nd from 4:00-7:00 PM in the Matarese Funeral Home, 325 Main St. Ashland, MA.