FALMOUTH – Raymond “Red” Charles Tartre, 79, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 19, at Falmouth by the Sea after a long and courageous battle with prostate cancer.

He was born on Feb. 16, 1927 in Lewiston, a son of Charles W. and Antoinette (Gauvin) Tartre.

He graduated from Lewiston High School and then enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1945. Red was honorably discharged after being diagnosed with early onset diabetes.

After his discharge, he returned home and met the woman who would be the love of his life, best friend and private nurse, Yvette “Mickey” Martin. They were married on Nov. 6, 1948 and together raised five children.

In 1958, along with business partner Bob Fickett, he started Hardware Consultants, Inc. Through hard work, determination and an extraordinary competitive spirit, his company grew to become a national industry leader in wholesale hardware with branch offices and warehouses in Burlington, Vt., Nashua, N.H., Bangor and Randolf, Mass.

He was a member of the National Door and Hardware Institute for many years, becoming president of that organization in 1972 and was awarded the Founders Memorial Award in 1981. He also was a member of the Distributors Council, Inc., for many years and President of the Distributors Council in 1983. As a 20-year member of the National Fire Protection Association’s 101 Means of Egress Committee, he helped to create and pass current building fire safety codes.

He was most proud and passionate about his family. His happiest family gatherings were sharing lobsters and his favorite wine. Red’s other passions included his love for skiing, which he shared with his family almost as soon as they could walk. He and Mickey skied all over the world, and he was happiest skiing the “bumps,” or mogels. A highlight for him was in 1989, when he helicopter-skied with his son in the Canadian Rockies.

Besides skiing, he also enjoyed playing tennis and golf and was on the Board of Directors of the Falmouth Country Club and President of the Falmouth On The Green Homeowners Association.

His favorite time of year was late August with start of football season. On Sunday afternoons from August to February, you would find him in front of the TV watching his beloved New York Giants.

Throughout his life he was a devout Catholic. He was involved in many church affairs including his positions on the Board of Trustees at St. Joseph’s College, Cheverus High School and Catholic Charities of Maine. After his retirement, he became a hospice volunteer.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Yvette “Mickey” Tartre of Falmouth; two daughters, Elizabeth Lemire of Seattle, Wash., and Jane and her husband, John Rabbitt, of Lunenburg, Mass.; three sons, Charles and his wife, Susan Tartre, of Falmouth, James and his wife, Ann Tartre, of Falmouth, and Robert and his wife, Susan Tartre, of Denver, Colo.; nine grandchildren, Peter and his wife, Sarah Lemire, of Denver, Colo., Amy Lemire of Seattle, Wash., Matthew and Andrew Stanley of Lunenburg, Mass., Kaitlyn, Ryan and Martin Tartre of Falmouth, and Samantha and Reilly Tartre of Denver, Colo.; two great-grandchildren, Claudia and Lucas Lemire of Denver, Colo.; and a sister, Isabelle and her husband, Edger Bonneau, of Lewiston.

The family would like to thank the staff of the Gibson Unit at the Maine Medical Center, Seaside Nursing Home and Falmouth by the Sea for the outstanding care and compassion shown to Red and all of us during this difficult time.

Red was predeceased by a brother, Edmund and a sister, Marie.