LEWISTON – Francis J. Patry, 82, of 56 Robinson Gardens, died Thursday, Sept. 15, at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center surrounded by his loving family after a long battle with cancer.

He was born in Lewiston on Oct. 6, 1922, a son of Laurea and Laure Gamache Patry. He was educated in Lewiston schools, after which he served in the U.S. 8th Air Force in Europe as a B-17 pilot during World War II.

In 1947, he married Paulette Couture of Lewiston; she predeceased him after 24 years of marriage.

As a local businessman, he was involved with his family in various enterprises including Reliable Roofing, Reliable Oil, Central Maine Tennis in Lewiston and The Tennis Racket in Portland.

He was instrumental in acquiring many patents for roofing products, which resulted in the formation of a corporation called Hefco, with his brothers Ernest and Harvey Patry. Hefco eventually was sold to John Mansville Corp., in Denver, which employed him for many years.

In 1973, he married Thelma L. (Michaud) Legendre, who survives him.

He was an avid tennis player and fisherman, and enjoyed spending many summers at Thompson Lake.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Louise P. Beecher of Madison, Conn., and Diane Patry of Boston; a stepson, Richard Legendre and his wife, Joan, of Lewiston; two grandsons, Francis and William Beecher; three granddaughters, Kathleen, Lisa and Rachel Legendre; two brothers, Ernest and his wife, Therese Patry, of Turner, and Harvey and his wife, Victoria Patry, of Cape Elizabeth; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his brother, George Patry.

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