Richard "Frenchie" W. Legassie Obituary (1922 - 2015)

South Paris- Richard W. Frenchie Legassie, 92, died peacefully on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 at the Maine Veterans Home in South Paris, Maine. He was born in Ashland, Maine on April 25, 1922 the son of Stewart and Sophie Baker Legassie. He attended local schools there. On March 26, 1943 he entered the United States Army and was stationed in France and Germany during World War II. Richard did infantry work while he was in the Army. He earned the Purple Heart and the EAMET Ribbon. Richard remembered well the Battle of the Bulge. In June of 1942 Richard married Elaine Goodell in what began a long and loving relationship of more than 72 years. Frenchie, as he liked to be called, worked at the Barron Center in Portland. Over the years he owned and operated several Service Stations. He drove delivery trucks and delivered soda and beer to many stores. Frenchie worked in resale and part time as a gas station attendant for a while before retiring. In his spare time he loved going to the track at Scarborough Downs, being with friends and telling stories in between bets. On a winning day, Frenchie was known to give away all his winnings, he was a very kind hearted and generous person. His greatest love was the time he spent surrounded by his family, especially the young babies whom he had a soft spot for. Richard was predeceased by a grandson Steven Bernier; five brothers Raynold, Carlton, Donald, Herman and Rodney Legassie; a sister Jeannette Costa. He is survived by his wife Elaine Legassie of South Paris; a daughter Nancy and her husband Donald Bernier of South Portland; a son Gary R. and his wife Leah Legassie of Dunbarton, NH; a sister Joanne and her husband Jeffrey Saucier of Presque Isle; four brothers Milton Legassie, Milford L. Legassie, Glenn and his wife Pauline Legassie all of Presque Isle, Stewart and his wife Marie Legassie of South Portland; two grandchildren Kimberly Keenan and Kenneth Legassie; four great grandchildren, two step grandchildren, four step great grandchildren and one great great grandchild; many nieces and nephews. Visiting Hours will be held on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015 from 12-2PM in the Conroy-Tully Crawford South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. Funeral Service with Military Honors will take place at 2PM in the Funeral Home. Private burial will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery, Westbrook. To share an online condolence with the family, please visit www.ctcrawford.com Those desiring may make memorial contributions to the American Heart Association, 51 US Route 1, Suite M, Scarborough, ME 04074.