William Bragdon MacGregor Jr.

William "Bill" Bragdon MacGregor, 78, of Tiverton, RI passed away peacefully at home on December 10, 2025 after a valiant fight with cancer. He was the son of the late William Bragdon MacGregor, Sr. and Marion (MacDonald) MacGregor. Bill leaves his wife, Elizabeth Larkin Mantelli, his step-daughter Kristy Downing-Oteri and his son-in-law Matthew Oteri of Medfield, MA. He also leaves his step-son Douglas Mantelli and daughter-in-law, Hillary Mantelli of Castle Rock, CO. He leaves four cherished grandchildren, Connor and Owen Mantelli of Castle Rock and Molly and Max Oteri of Medfield. Bill leaves sisters-in-law, Jane Larkin of Walpole; Lisa Leon of Mansfield; Debbie Swierk of Walpole; Susan Pierce of Plainville; and Jill Daniels of Somerville. In addition, he leaves brothers-in-law Ted Larkin of Norwood; Stephen Swierk of Walpole; Mark Kolenski of Dorchester and Jack Cady of Foxboro. He was preceded in death by brothers-in-law Robert Larkin, Jr.; Richard Larkin; and James Stewart as well as his sister-in-law, Barbara Cady. Bill loved his nieces and nephews including Marianne Cronin of Norfolk; Chris Cady of VT; Brad Cady of Foxboro; Tony Rodriguez-Larkin of CO; Melissa Larkin and her two sons Tobias and Thaddeus of NM; Leon Larkin of Mansfield, his partner Ally Riboul and their two babies Bridgette and Richie; Avery Kolenski of Montreal, CAN; and Robby Larkin of Somerville. Bill also leaves his first wife, Karen Walsh Omeara of Westwood, and two friends who were more like a brother and a sister to him, Edward Beard of Medfield and Lyn Hedges O'Neil of West Yarmouth. A highlight of Bill's life was meeting his long lost maternal cousins for the first time in Nova Scotia in 2023. Bill loved his large family, his many friends, and his caring neighbors and; in return, he was quite well loved.

Bill grew up in Medfield and was a graduate of Medfield High School in the Class of 1965. During high school and college, he worked many hours at Lord's Department Store and, with help from its kind owners, Raymond Lord and William Kelly, he was able to put himself through college. Bill attended Franklin Institute, Wentworth Institute and Northeastern University from which he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial and Mechanical Engineering. Later in life he earned an Associate Degree in Computer Systems Management at McIntosh College in New Hampshire where he was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Society for his scholastic achievement. He worked for many years as an engineer for a number of military, aerospace, and IR optics companies, including Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. During much of that time, he also worked nights as a draftsman at WCVB Channel 5 Boston.

As the son and grandson of Norfolk Hunt Club kennel masters, Bill was active in the Norfolk Hunt Club for many years. His father and grandad as well as his Uncle George MacDonald of Pictou, Nova Scotia were also artists. Bill followed them in a second career as a painter using old school drafting tools and a mixed medium of watercolors, acrylics and inks. As a devoted animal lover, Bill incorporated two rabbits in many of his paintings. He painted nostalgia and junkyard automobiles and was frequently commissioned by the US Navy to paint its ships and aircraft carriers on nautical charts. That is why he was called the Junkyard and Nautical Chart Artist. His art work is his legacy and still may be seen on Facebook at William B. MacGregor Jr. Watercolors - The Junkyard Artist. Bill was a proud member of the Appalachian Mountain Club, and by climbing every New England peak over 4,000 feet, earned membership in the 4,000-Footer Club of the White Mountains, Recently, he was honored by the Early Ford V8 Club of New England for his years of great artwork and dedication to the club.

A Celebration of Life for Bill will be held in February on a date to be announced, followed by burial at Vine Lake Cemetery in Medfield through Roberts Mitchell Caruso Funeral Home in Medfield. Donations in Bill's memory may be made to the Medfield Animal Shelter at 101 Old Bridge St. Medfield, MA 02052, medfieldshelter@gmail.com or to the Brown University Health Cancer Institute Development Office at PO Box H, Providence, RI 02901, phone 401-444-6500.