BANGOR – Raymond Joseph “Blackie” Levesque Sr., 76, died peacefully April 29, 2011, surrounded by his wife and children. He was born May 5, 1934, in Fort Kent, the son of Wilfred and Lucy (Ouellette) Levesque.
Raymond attended St. Martin of Tours High School, Millinocket. He married Bernette Martin Aug. 23, 1958. Raymond worked for Great Northern Paper Co. until 1962 when he began working at Grant’s Dairy until 1968, where he managed the branch in Fort Kent. Later that year he began a career with Prudential Insurance Co., where he was a sales agent for 21/2 years and then was promoted to sales manager for 171/2 years. During that time he accumulated 13 academy honors of the top 10 percent in the U.S. and Canada. Then he received six citations from the top 5 percent in the U.S. and Canada. At the age of 53 he was forced to take disability retirement due to his health. Raymond enjoyed hunting, fishing and snowmobiling.
Surviving in addition to his loving and devoted wife of more than 52 years, Bernette, are one daughter and son-in-law, Sandra and Scott Hoskins of Bucksport; three sons and one daughter-in-law, Raymond Levesque of South Portland, Mark and Terri Levesque of Rollingsford, N.H., and Adam Levesque of Bucksport; nine grandchildren, Jessica Thiel, Nicole Sawyer, Zachary Levesque, Meghan Levesque, Matthew Levesque, Elizabeth Levesque, Daniel Levesque, Joel Levesque and Samuel Levesque; two great-grandchildren, Kyle Levesque and Hunter Thiel; one brother, Rand Levesque; several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents; brothers, Conrad, Reynold and Wilfred Jr.; and sisters, Marie LeBlond, Rita King, June Ouellette and Arlene Ouellette.
A service will be held 4 p.m. Monday, May 2, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center St., Bangor, after the service. Gifts in his memory may be sent to International Fellowship of Christians & Jews, P.O. Box 96105, Washington, D.C. 20090-6105. Condolences to the family may be expressed at
www.BrookingsSmith.com.
Raymond wished to share a message with all: He loved his Lord and Savior and wanted everyone to accept Jesus as their Lord, their Savior.