ST. AGATHA – Leonide Joseph Ayotte, 96, went home to be with the Lord Saturday, June 6, 2009, with his children by his side at St. Joseph Nursing Home, Frenchville, just 13 days before his 97th birthday. He was born June 19, 1912, in St. Agatha, the son of Josephel and Marie (Albert) Ayotte. Leonide took over his father’s farm in 1938 when his father passed away. He supported his siblings still at home, who in turn helped him by managing a small grocery store in his house. After all siblings moved away, he met Clorinthe Theriault of Notre-Dame-du-Lac, Quebec, and they married Nov. 24, 1943. They shared 64 loving years together before her passing away, Sept. 28, 2008. Leonide tried his hands at many things and succeeded in all ventures. He spent some winters in the woods cutting pulp wood for Great Northern Paper, hauled pulp wood, cut and sold firewood locally, raised livestock, cut hay for his animals and grew oats for the market. The store business flourished through Clorinthe’s hard work and with a new store attached to their house in 1946. He was a potato farmer all his life, shipped potatoes for area farmers, was instrumental in the formation of Farmers Starch Cooperative, Inc., St. Agatha, and served as president, and was a chemical and fertilizer agent for Aroostook Federation of Farmers. He gave his farm to his sons, Lucien and Maurice, when he retired from farming in 1975. He continued to work as a chemical and fertilizer salesman for Nutrite Corp. until his retirement at age 73. Leonide loved fishing on the beautiful area lakes, playing Charlemagne, gardening, picking hazelnuts, eating out at Rosette’s Restaurant, and socializing with family, relatives and friends. He loved the outdoors and the warmth of the sun. He could often be heard saying, “Ah, Le beau soleil.” He was a generous host to all who stopped by for a visit, maintained an optimistic attitude, and always showed his love and appreciation through his beautiful heartwarming smile. Leonide was presented the Golden Cane Citizens Award from St. Agatha Historical Society, March 8, 2009. He was a parishioner of Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, St. Agatha and he lived well the teachings of his faith. Leonide was humble, generous, compassionate, honest and very appreciative of anything done for him. He could always be depended on to lend a hand to family, relatives and friends. He led a meaningful and very productive life, a good blend of hard work mixed with moments of reflection and pleasure. Witty comments often made people laugh heartily and enjoy his company. His resourcefulness and high intelligence came through even in his last days at the nursing home. Leonide is survived by five sons, Lucien and his wife, Joyce, Maurice, Leo James, Jean Guy, and Roland and his wife, Linda, all of St. Agatha; one daughter, Fernande and her husband, Francis Desjardins, of St. Agatha; son-in-law, Eudo Emond of Meriden, Conn.; 12 grandchildren, Danna Dubois, Sandy Sylvain, Tammy Bouley, Angie Schickle, Michael Emond, Cindy Fuller, Dave, Aaron and Sarah Desjardins, Brian, Michelle and Ashley Ayotte; seven great-grandchildren, Jenna and Kera Dubois, Randy and Travis Sylvain, Shawn Bouley, Derek and Alyssa Fuller; one great-great-grandchild, Lily Ouellette; one brother, Alcide Ayotte of Plainville, Conn.; four sisters, Annette Nadeau and Aurore Pelletier of Bristol, Conn., Yvette Plourde of Rocky Hill, Conn., and Hilda Bosse of Caribou; many in-laws, nieces and nephews. Leonide was predeceased by his parents and devoted wife; his daughter, Louise Emond; one brother, Lawrence; and three sisters, Cora Albert, Cecile Ouellette and Claire Nadeau. Relatives and friends may call 6-8 p.m. Thursday, June 11, and 8:30 a.m. until the departure for the funeral Friday at Michaud Funeral Home, St. Agatha. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. June 12 at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, St. Agatha, with the Rev. Philip Cyr officiating. Interment will take place at St. Agatha Lower Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Leonide’s memory may be made to Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church.
LEONIDE JOSEPH AYOTTE
