| Obituary in the Press Herald |
NEW GLOUCESTER – Ray Michaud, 87, of New Gloucester, died May 19, 2023, at the Barron Center in Portland after a courageous battle with dementia.
He was born on Sept. 21, 1935, to Thomas and Esther (Beland) Michaud at St. Mary’s Hospital in Lewiston. He attended Lewiston schools, and later went to work for his father, who was a farmer in Winthrop. In an article about him in The Cape Courier in 2011, he said of his time working with his father, “Didn’t have pickers back when my father had his market garden, so (I) had to do the picking by hand. Worst job was picking string beans. Back-breaking work, really. Seemed like the bucket never filled up.”
Among his many jobs over the years, Ray worked as a mechanic at a garage in Monmouth, was a Monmouth Fire Department volunteer firefighter for many years, a truck driver, and he delivered heating oil in the winter, among many others. He was also a proud U.S. Army veteran.
A couple of his most favorite jobs were in Cape Elizabeth. He drove a bus for senior citizens for several years, transporting them to doctor appointments, shopping and back. The other was as a school bus driver and maintenance, grounds, janitorial and plumbing worker for Cape Elizabeth School Department, a job he held for 28 years.
Among Ray’s favorite hobbies were gardening, cookouts, camping, having his grandchildren over to the house, and spending holidays with family.
In 2001, Ray married the love of his life, Deborah Higgins Michaud. They were married for almost 22 years, together for 25 years.
Ray was predeceased by his mother and father; his brother, Donald Michaud; and stepdaughter, Andrea Yans.
He is survived by his loving wife, Debbie; son, Mike and wife Trina Michaud of Missouri, and children Alex and Hanna; stepdaughter, Amber and husband Richard Lagrange of Lewiston, and their son, Eric Powlesland, daughter, Katelyn (Justin) Gove and children Bentley and Mia, daughter Tisha Crocker and children Amilia and Derrell, and twins Dustin and Dakota Davis; step-grandchildren, Molly Yans and Casey Wilford. He is also survived by brother-in-law, Kermit and wife Jeanne Higgins of New Gloucester, son Brent (Catie) Cogswell of Auburn and children Angie, Brad and Jameson, son Michael (Ali) Higgins of Lewiston, and daughter Brittany (Trevor) of Gray and children Brandon, Noah and Cameron.
Wilson’s Funeral Home in Gray handled the arrangements. No services will be held at this time.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in Ray’s name.
— Read the obituary at this link.
