1923 – 2003

LEWISTON – Lionel Joseph Laferriere, 79, died Oct. 17, 2003, at a Lewiston hospital.

He was born Nov. 29, 1923 at Eagle Lake, a son of Leon and Eva (Paradis) Laferriere. He graduated from Fort Kent High School, Class of 1942 and served in the U. S. Army in the European theatre during World War II. On May 3, 1947, he married the former Florice Gilbert.

Lionel was a rural mail carrier for 30 years. A communicant of St. Anne’s Parish in Dexter, he was an usher, served on the parish council, and was a member of Cardinal Mercier Council 2625 Knights of Columbus.

He was a 57-year member of Poulliot- Seavey Post #53 American Legion, the Shirley B. Carter Post 4298, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Disabled American Veterans Association.

He was a past president of the Dexter Fish and Game Association, and will be remembered as an expert fly tier and an avid outdoorsman.

He was an excellent baseball player and continues to hold several records at his high school. He shared his talent with the area youth as a Little League coach for many years.

He enjoyed gardening and sharing his produce with his family, neighbors and friends.

Lionel will be missed by a large family who loved him dearly.

In addition to his wife of 56 years, he is survived by a son, Allen and his wife, Cherie, of Hagerstown, Md.; four daughters, Eileen and her husband, Tim Schoonmaker, of Stetson, Lana Robichaud of Bangor, Elizabeth and her husband, Lauren Hebert, of Dixfield, Margaret and her husband, John Houghton, of Ft. Fairfield; brothers and sisters, Reginald and his wife, Bea Laferriere, of Mich., Julie and her husband, Harry Stathoplos, of Wells, Orel Laferriere of Mich., Patrick Laferriere of Dexter, Annette Jackson of Fla., Roy and his wife, Barbara Laferriere, of Dexter, Jim and his wife, Betty Laferriere, of Dexter, Joel and his wife, Sandra Laferriere, of Windham; an aunt, Pauline Belanger of Fort Kent; 16 grandchildren, Jennifer Pratt, Amy LePage, Alison and Andrew Robichaud, Paul Laferriere, Leigh Ventura, Lesley and Aric Laferriere, Aaron, Adam and Natalie Perreault, Sara, Matthew, and Emily Cyr, Matthew Hebert and Melissa Fowles; 9 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by two brothers, Lucien and Norman.