FORT FAIRFIELD and CARIBOU – Leslie H. Cote, 86, husband of the late Evelyn M. Cote, passed away Wednesday evening, Jan. 7, 2009, at a Caribou nursing facility, after an extended illness. He was born Feb. 26, 1922, in Fort Fairfield, the son of John D. and Anna (Maskell) Cote. He attended local schools, was a communicant of St. Denis Catholic Church, Fort Fairfield and was married to Evelyn Gervais, Feb. 22, 1941. Les was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served during World War II as a military policeman, and had been employed with the Department of Transportation, Fort Fairfield, for 32 years. He was a former member of Knights of Columbus Council No. 1753, Fort Fairfield; a member of Frontier Fish and Game Club, Fort Fairfield; and a former member of Fort Fairfield Rod & Gun Club. Les will be remembered as a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. In addition to his parents, Mr. Cote was predeceased by his wife, Evelyn M. Cote, July 12, 2008; one son, Clyde Cote; three brothers, Andrew, Roy and Charles Cote; and one sister, Margaret Cote. He is survived by two sons, Leslie D. Cote of Presque Isle, and Paul C. Cote Sr. and his wife, Gail, of Fort Fairfield; one daughter, Rachel Taggett and her husband, George, of Waldorf, Md.; two sisters-in-law, Gloria Cote of Burnham and Frances Cote of Caribou; one sister and brother-in-law, Edith and Homer Geiger of Irwin, Pa.; 15 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews. Friends may call 7-9 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, at Giberson-Dorsey Funeral Home, 144 Main St., Fort Fairfield, where a vigil service will be conducted 7:30 p.m. by the Rev. Jean-Paul Labrie. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 12, at St. Denis Catholic Church, 143 Main St., Fort Fairfield, with the Rev. Jean-Paul Labrie, celebrant. Spring interment with military honors will take place at St. Denis Catholic Cemetery, Fort Fairfield. A time of continued fellowship with refreshments will be held immediately after the funeral Mass at VFW Paul Lockhart Post No. 6187, Presque Isle Street, Fort Fairfield. Those who wish may contribute in memory of Mr. Cote to the American Stroke Association, Maine Affiliate Inc., P.O. Box 346, Augusta, ME 04332-0346 or Maine Veterans’ Home, 163 Van Buren Road, Caribou, ME 04736. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
LESLIE H. COTE
