Raymond J. Guimond, Sr

PORTLAND - Raymond J. Guimond, Sr., of Dorset Street, died Monday, January 30, 2012, at his home. He was born in Rumford, on January 7, 1921, a son of Henry and Lena (Gaudet) Guimond. He served in the U.S. Army as an anti-aircraft artilleryman during World War II, participating in the battles of Sicily, Naples Foggia, Rome Arno, Rhineland, and Central Europe. He was awarded the Europe and Africa Middle East Theater Campaign Ribbons with Bronze Service Arrowhead. He married Bertha R. Noonan in Portland on May 23, 1941. He worked as an overhead crane operator for Maguire Jones Steel Fabricators. Ray was a hard-working family man and proud grandfather with a zest for life. He was always on the road doing what he called, "the pop", driving by the homes of family and friends and popping in to say, "Hi". He loved fishing and hunting with his son Ray and his brothers-in-law. He was active and helpful in his neighborhood, often mowing lawns and shoveling snow for people twenty to thirty years younger than himself. Although suffering from dementia in his last years, he never forgot his beloved wife and family. He will be missed by all. He is predeceased by his wife who died May 19, 2007; a daughter, Diane Rea Guimond; twin brother, Edmond Guimond and brother Peter Guimond. He is survived by a daughter, Jean Guimond Fairweather of Portland; a son, Raymond J. Guimond, Jr. of Standish; six grandchildren, John R. Fairweather II and his wife Christina of Scarborough, Jennifer Parsons and her husband Erick of Jacksonville, Florida, Joshua Fairweather and his wife Nicole of Gorham, Scott Guimond of Sebago, Eric Guimond and his wife Rhonda of Standish, and Daniel Guimond of Biddeford; five great-grandchildren, Taylor Fairweather, Timothy Weber and his companion Amanda Huff, Aiden Parsons, Brooke Kazimer, and Madeline Guimond; and two great-great-grandsons, Timothy and Chance Weber. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 am, Saturday, at St Joseph's Church, 673 Steven's Avenue, Portland. Burial with military honors will follow at Calvary Cemetery, South Portland. Arrangements are by Conroy-Tully Crawford Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Maine Veterans Home, Patient Activity Fund, 290 U.S. Route 1, Scarborough, ME 04074.Online condolences may be expressed below.