Raymond Ronald Lavallee

South Portland - Raymond Ronald Lavallee, 87, passed away peacefully on April 8, 2023. “Ray” or “Ronnie” as he was known in childhood and to his close family, was born on September 15, 1935 in Berlin, NH. He was the only child of Joseph and Irene (Fortin) Lavalley. Following high school in Berlin, Ray enlisted in the US Air Force and made the most of his time in the military by completing international tours in Japan, Korea, and Greece. After his service, Ray studied at the Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, MA and then moved to Manchester, NH where he began his career as an Estimator at Harvey Construction Company. He married Claudette Renaud in 1966, and they raised their family in Goffstown, NH. In 2010, Ray and Claudette moved to Maine to be closer to their sons, Paul, Marc, and Michael. For Ray, family and faith were central to his life. In their years of marriage, Raymond and Claudette enjoyed raising and supporting their children, and they were dedicated and active members of their church community. As a parishioner at St. Lawrence Church in Goffstown, NH and at Ste. Marie Church in Manchester, NH, Ray was a tireless volunteer who offered his experience in woodworking, building, and renovation to support the parishes. Upon moving to Maine, Ray and Claudette attended the Holy Cross Catholic Church in South Portland. Ray was a lifelong learner and craftsperson. He was a skilled carpenter who completed projects ranging from extensive home remodeling to designing and building a house for his family. He also was a creative woodworker who produced intricate wood carvings and sturdy furniture. Ray valued his French Canadian heritage and spent countless hours researching family genealogy and supporting the American-Canadian Genealogical Society in New Hampshire. Ray and his generous, kind, and soft spoken nature will be deeply missed, but forever treasured by those who have been close to him. His family wishes to thank the staff at The Barron Center in Portland, ME who provided compassionate care to Ray over the past year. Ray leaves behind his wife of 57 years, Claudette (Renaud) Lavallee of South Portland, ME; children, Denise Lavallee and her husband Kenny Markus of Jackson, NJ, Marc Lavallee of South Portland, ME, Paul Lavallee and his wife Amy Lavallee of Falmouth Maine, and Michael Lavallee of South Portland, ME. In addition, his six grandchildren are Christopher Zak, Nicholas Zak, Kaitlyn Zak, Joseph Lavallee, Thomas Lavallee, and Samuel Lavallee. A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating Ray’s life will be held at 10AM on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at Holy Cross Church,124 Cottage Rd, South Portland. Burial will follow on Tuesday at 2PM at Mount Calvary Cemetery,474 Goffstown Rd, Manchester, NH. Arrangements are under the direction of the Conroy-Tully Walker South Portland Chapel. To view Ray’s memorial page, or to share an online condolence, please visit www.ConroyTullyWalker.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ray’s memory to the Catholic Charities Maine, Development Office, PO Box 10660, Portland, ME 04104-6060; or the Maine Adaptive Sports and Recreation, PO Box 853, Bethel, Maine 04217