Cleo Lemay

Cleo A. Lemay, 66, of Sanford, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, February 3 while on a trip to Anchorage, Alaska.He was born in Coleraine, PQ, Canada on February 14, 1939, the youngest of the four children of Willie and Rose Marie (Dubois) Lemay. Cleo was in grade school when his family relocated to Sanford.When he turned 18 in 1957, he became a US citizen and enlisted in the US Army. After more than 3 years of active duty that included 16 months of overseas assignments in Germany and France, he was honorably discharged and began a 20-plus year career as a machinist for several local shoe factories. In the mid 1980's, he became self-employed as a general contractor, enjoying and staying active in this field until the end of his life.Cleo was a quiet and modest man who kept mostly to himself. An avid lover of the outdoors, many of his summers over the years were spent in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and in Alaska. A gentle and kindred spirit (a side most never saw), he had a special way and place in his heart for animals and could often be seen with a beloved pet by his side - enjoying a car ride through the country or walk along the shore. He was a talented handyman taking on household projects from remodeling the kitchen to building a home for his family from the foundation up. One of his biggest joys in life was doting on his only child, his beloved daughter. She recalled that he was a man who never looked for recognition, but was always willing to go out of his way for others.He was predeceased by his parents, and two older brothers, Gaston and Bertrand Lemay.Survivors include his daughter, Sabrina (Lemay) Sanelli and her husband Brett of Stamford, CT, a sister Gaetane Lemay of Sanford, beloved relatives Helen Jarratt of Anchorage, Alaska, Alice Lemay of Hudson, FL, a niece and 5 nephews.Visiting hours will be held on Thursday from 6-8 PM at the Lafrance-Lambert & Black Funeral Home, 29 Winter Street, Sanford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at 9 AM in Notre Dame Church in Springvale.To send a note of condolence to the family please return to the "condolence" icon at the top left of this page.