Chief Master Sergeant (Ret.) Raynard L. Ouellette, 90, of The Villages, Florida died on December 12, 2013 after a brief illness. Ray was born on October 2, 1923 in Old Town, Maine, first born son of Francois Xavior Ouellette [Frank Willette and Alphina (Dionne) Willette].
He graduated from Old Town High School in 1941, and the Maine Maritime Academy in 1944. Ray was in the US Naval Reserve and was called to service as a Midshipman in the Merchant Marines during W.W. II, serving in the Atlantic Theater. At discharge, he returned to Old Town to meet the love of his life, Lois Mishou, whom he married in 1946. They settled in Old Town where he worked in the boiler room at Penobscot Chemical Fiber Company, in Old Town. He was a member of the Air Force Reserve, and was called to duty during the Korean War. Ray and Lois remained in military life for 25 years, with assignments in Canada, Hawaii, and Korea, as well as bases in New England, making many wonderful friends along the way. During this time, he served as a First Sergeant and then transitioned into Personnel Management.
Following his retirement from the Air Force, he worked as a Civil Service Personnel Manager at Loring Air Force Base (AFB) in Maine and Pease AFB in New Hampshire.
In 2001, Ray and Lois made a permanent move to Florida, where they lived in Melbourne Beach near his brother and wife. In 2009, they moved to The Villages to be near their daughter and husband. There, Ray and Lois had the good fortune to meet some wonderful people. Just prior to his passing, Ray and Lois enjoyed one last dance at the neighborhood Christmas party, surrounded by these friends. He will be sadly missed by his wife, family and friends.
Ray is survived by his wife of 67 years, Lois V.(Mishou); two daughters, Christine A. Hamilton and her husband Willard of Caribou, Me and The Villages, Florida and Susan Feldman and her husband, Adam of Weston, Florida; five grandchildren, Todd Hamilton (Windham, Me), Jon Hamilton (Caribou, Me.), Scott Hamilton (Cumberland Center, Me.), Jakob and Jonah Feldman (Weston, Fl.); two great grand-children, Brynne and Finn Hamilton; his brother, Norman and his wife, Lois Ouellette of Connecticut and Florida, his brother-in-law, Joseph Ferrero of Pennsylvania, his sister-in- law, Gail and her husband Billy of Saybrook, Connecticut., 10 nieces and 4 nephews.
Calling hours will be at the Lady Lake Chapel of Beyers Funeral Home on Sunday, December 15, 2013 from 5pm-7pm. Funeral services will be held at St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church in Wildwood on Monday, December 16, 2013 at 10:00am. Interment will be in Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL with full military honors at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church Building Fund, www.sumtercatholic.org or the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org.
Condolences may be left at www.beyersfuneralhome.com, Beyers Funeral Home and Crematory, Lady Lake/The Villages, FL is in charge of arrangements.