RAYNO J. COTE

EDGEWATER, Fla. and PORTAGE LAKE – Rayno J. Cote, 85, beloved husband of 63 years to Gladys (Babkirk) Cote, lost his struggle with cancer Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009, at Volusia Hospice Facility, Edgewater, Fla. Rayno was born Aug. 30, 1923, in Houlton, one of three sons born to Cyrias and Veronique (Madore) Cote. After graduation from Fort Kent High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, February 1943. He was assigned to the 463rd Anti-Aircraft Battalion with the 79th Infantry Division that landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France on D-Day, June 6, 1944. For 17 months he fought in France and Germany, at the Battle of the Bulge and in Belgium. After his honorable discharge, December 1945, he returned to Maine, where he began his working career with Bangor and Aroostook Railroad under the GI Bill. In 1946 he married Gladys Babkirk at St. Louis Catholic Church, Fort Kent. Rayno worked 40 years as a station agent for Bangor and Aroostook Railroad. During his career, he worked out of the Portage Lake Railroad Station until it closed. He was then transferred to Ashland Railroad Station and when it closed, he finished out his career at Squa Pan Railroad station. He also worked other part-time jobs, which included bartending at Dean’s Hotel for many years, bookkeeping for Gilbert Cyr’s logging company, and cashiering at Coffin’s General Store. Rayno enjoyed playing golf and devoted more than 15 years of his life to working at Portage Hills Country Club. Most of those years were spent doing volunteer work. He will always be remembered for his many years riding the tractors that mowed the fairways and roughs. Rayno was one of the founding fathers of the golf course and served many years on the board of directors. He was also a past member of the board of directors for SAD 32, a third degree member of Knights of Columbus and a lifetime member of Veterans’ of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. In his retirement years, he and Gladys began to visit New Smyrna Beach and Edgewater areas of Florida and spent parts of their winters there. They have been returning for more than 17 years and have made their home in Edgewater, Fla., at Eastern Shores Mobile Home Village. It was there that they made many new friends and loved all the activities they took part in during the winter months. Rayno’s many hobbies included fishing, golfing, playing cards – especially poker, watching country and western movies and listening to country music. He and Gladys enjoyed their many trips throughout the continental U.S. and Hawaii. Rayno was a devout Catholic and was an active member at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, Portage Lake, and Sacred Heart Church, Edgewater, Fla. He is survived by his wife, Gladys; and their seven children and spouses, Donna and Jim Leland of Fort Worth, Texas, Brian Cote of Portage Lake, Michael and Joanne Cote, Lisa and Tom Martin, David and Melanie Cote, Danny and Carol Cote, all of Ashland, and Paula and Fred Tardie of Taunton, Mass.; nine grandchildren, Stacy and her husband, Mike Huffine, of Spring, Texas, Christopher Leland and his wife, Kim, of Norman, Okla., Shawn Bryant of Veazie, Travis Bryant of Orono, Megan, Abbey, Tyler, and Kayla Cote, all of Ashland, and Dylan Tardie of Taunton, Mass.; six great-grandchildren, Christian, Cole and Chase Huffine of Spring, Texas, Sydney and Ryan Leland of Norman, Okla., and Silas Bryant of Orono; one sister, Theresa St. Mary of Wyomissing, Pa.; and two sisters-in-law, Muriel Cote of Fort Kent and Lydia Cote of Brewer. Rayno was predeceased by two sisters and two brothers, Jeanne Guerette of Daleville, Ala., Anita Cote and Aime Cote, both of Fort Kent, and Nelson Cote of Brewer. Rayno was deeply loved by his family and will be sorely missed. Relatives and friends may call 9:30 a.m. until the time of services Saturday, Aug. 22, at Our Lady of the Lake Church, Portage Lake, where a funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. Committal service and interment will be at Portage Lake Municipal Cemetery. Those who wish may contribute in his memory to the American Cancer Society, Northern New England Region, 1 Bowdoin Mill Island, Suite 300, Topsham, ME 04086 or to Volusia/Flager Hospice Facility, 4140 S. Ridgewood Ave., Edgewater, FL 32141. Arrangements are a service of Stimson-Ouellette Funeral Home, 114 Exchange St., Ashland. To leave online condolences, please visit www.ouellettefuneralhome.com.