Raymond Lessard

Raymond Joseph Lessard, 86, of 16 Kirk St., Springvale, died Friday at Goodall Hospital in Sanford. He was born May 27, 1919, in Springvale, the fourth son of Joseph and Lucia Letourneau Lessard, and attended Sanford schools. He met his wife in 1940 at a 10-cent dance and married Dec. 27, 1941. Mr. Lessard was a combat medic in World War II, seeing duty in Africa, Sicily and Northern Europe, including a D-Day landing in Normandy, action at the Battle of the Bulge, and the liberation of Dachau concentration camp. Following the war, Mr. Lessard returned to Maine, where he was employed first with Economy Market of Springvale, then Dan's Market and later Star Market in Dover, N.H., where he eventually became the store manager. He retired in 1980 to the family camp in Shapleigh, where he lived until 2003. Mr. Lessard is survived by his wife of 64 years, Marion King Lessard; two daughters and two sons-in-law, Karen Lessard Towle of Madbury, N.H., Brenda and John Armstrong of Tenants Harbor, Maine; and Paul McAdam of Laconia, N.H.; five grandchildren, Tara Elwell and Amber Armstrong of Tenants Harbor, Paul McAdam and Melessa Sentman of Rabat, Morocco, Todd McAdam and Joy Crocker of Cortlandville, N.Y., and Kyle and Kelly McAdam of Groveton, N.H.; four great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. His eldest daughter, Sandra McAdam, died in September 2002. His son-in-law Jim Towle died in March 2004. Visiting hours are 3 to 5 p.m. Monday at Carll-Heald and Black Funeral Home, 580 Main St., Springvale. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Notre Dame Church on Payne Street in Springvale. . Burial will follow at St. Ignatius Cemetery. Family flowers only, please. Memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 1131, Fairfax, Va., 22038-1131.Condolences may be expressed at the tab at left.