1932 – 2017

AUBURN — Maurice Laureat Ouellette, 84, of Central Avenue, Lewiston, died Tuesday, Jan. 10, at the Hospice House of Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice, with his loving family by his side.

He was born in Lewiston on July 10, 1932. The only child of Laureat J. and Marie LeBlanc Ouellette, he received his education at St. Peter and Paul Parochial School, graduating in 1948 and St. Dominic High School, graduating in 1951. While at St. Dom’s he played some baseball but excelled in hockey all four years. He was an outstanding hockey player and was an instrumental all-star player in St. Dom’s winning the 1951 New England States Hockey Championship in Providence, R.I. The team received a hero’s welcome with a huge ticker-tape parade with the mayors of both cities along with thousands of cheering fans lining the route all the way from the Portland Jetport exit.

After graduation from St. Dom’s, Maurice attended the Vocational Technical Institute in South Portland for one year for automotive and small-engine repairs. Always wanting to better himself, he went from there to East Coast Aero Inc. in Bedford, Mass., to become an aircraft mechanic. While at East Coast Aero, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. Prior to the Army he returned home and married his high school sweetheart, the former Merlyne P. Morin, on Nov. 27, 1952. After a four-day honeymoon, he and his new bride returned to Lewiston. He then left Dec. 3, 1952, for basic training at Camp Breckinridge, Ky. From basic training, he then shipped out of Seattle, Wash., for Korea. While serving in Korea, he went on R&R to Japan where he made some lifelong friends and he also took part in a table tennis (ping pong) tournament and beat the Japanese champion. He always maintained his great ping pong playing ability and taught all of his children to play, some of whom are still good players today.

After his honorable discharge from the Army on Dec. 2, 1954, he returned to finish his two-year course at the Maine Vocational Technical Institute. Not finding work in that field, he went to work as a temporary groundskeeper at Brunswick Naval Air Station and he retired from BNAS after 30 years of employment as a warehouseman in the parts department.

He will always be remembered as a loving and caring husband and father, whose word was his bond. He was especially devoted to his youngest daughter, Beth Marie, who was developmentally and physically challenged. She passed away in 1981. Maurice was a very quiet man and never one to boast on any of his accomplishments. In his younger years, he was a fantastic swimmer who swam across Sabattus Lake, where his parents owned a cottage at Nason’s Beach. His children spent many happy hours there also. He was also known as the horseshoe pitching champ. Though he seldom found time to practice, he’d end up beating any and all challengers. Never a golfer, either, he would still beat relatives who talked him into playing. He was a natural form athlete.

His neighbors will remember his two or three daily walks by their houses. He will be sadly missed by his loving family who will always remember his quiet strength and wise counsel.

He is survived by his loving wife, Merlyne; his six children, 18 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren: Stephen and his wife, Joyce (of Millbrook, N.Y.) and their children, Madeleine King and Isabelle; Paul and wife, Connie (of Turner) and their children, Amy (and children, Alex and Audrey), Cory and wife, Kasey (and son, Silas), Leah, Joshua and Tasha Pelletier (and children, Trey and Sawyer), and Caleb; John and Janet (of Hollywood, S.C.) and their children, Heather (and daughter, Destiny) and Codey; Mark and wife, Nancy (of Auburn) and their children, Adam and wife, Amber (and son, Owen), Vanessa Poulin and husband, Charlie, and Chris (and son, Jordan); Claude and wife, Lisa (of Lewiston) and their children, Scott Poli, Emily, Jacob, and Rachel; and Lise (of Portland) and her children, Ryan and Erin Martinez and husband, Nick (and daughter, Arabella).

He was predeceased by his father, mother and daughter, Beth Marie Ouellette.

Condolences, donations and a video tribute may be found online at www.albert-burpee.com.