Austin J. "Aut" Gunnery passed away at the R.N. Rogers Veteran's Hospital in Bedford on Thursday, March 5, 2009. He was 81 years of age. Mr. Gunnery was born in Melrose on August 9, 1927, to the late John & Agnes (Gallagher) Gunnery. He was raised in Melrose, graduated from Melrose High School, Class of 1945 and received an associate's degree in Criminology from Northeastern University. Austin lived most of his life in Melrose and Billerica for the past 6 years. Mr. Gunnery served in the US Navy during WWII and then joined the Melrose Police Department in 1949. He worked for the police department for 40 years, 1st as a patrolman then as a Sergeant, retiring in 1989. "Aut" also worked as a truck driver for Crystal Motors in Wakefield for over 25 years. He was a dedicated family man, an avid reader who was a regular at the Melrose Library and loved baseball. Mr. Gunnery was the beloved husband of 59 years to the late Kathleen A. (Devlin) Gunnery. Loving father Sharon A. O'Connor & her husband James of Billerica, Stephan P. Gunnery & his wife Judith (Cohn) of Baltimore, MD, Daniel J. Gunnery & his wife Kathleen & Thomas M. Gunnery & his wife Lillian, all of NH. Cherished grandfather of Greg & his wife Jenn, Colleen & her husband Randy, Kate, Mark, Sarah, Caroline, Craig & Bryan. Great grandfather of Brynn, Maeve, Kyle & Jake. Caring brother of Leonard Gunnery & his wife Marie of FL & Clifford Gunnery & his late wife Bette Ann of CT. Also survived by several nieces & nephews. Funeral from the Gately Funeral Home 79 W. Foster St., Melrose on Tuesday, March 10th at 10:00AM. Funeral Mass in St. Mary's Church Herbert St., Melrose at 10:30AM. Family & friends respectfully invited. Visiting hours Tues. Morning from 8:00-10:00AM in the funeral home. Interment in Wyoming Cemetery, Melrose. Memorial donations in Austin's memory may be made to Alzheimer's Assoc. 311 Arsenal St., Watertown, MA 02472.