SHAPLEIGH — Raymond J. Martel Jr., 63, of Shapleigh passed away in Acton on April 29, 2015.
He was born in Sanford on Nov. 28, 1951, a son of Raymond J. Sr., and Patricia (Provencher) Martel. He served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany and Vietnam.
Following his military service he worked for the Department of the Navy at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. He then established and operated R.J. Martel and Sons Excavating and Contracting. He also was a truck driver for multiple companies, including Pottles, A&P Transportation, Ryder and Marlin Trucking. Prior to retirement, he had been employed as a crane operator at the Charlestown Naval Shipyard.
A communicant of Holy Family Parish, he was also a member of the local 3rd and 4th Degree Knights of Columbus Councils. He was also a member of the ATV Club in Waterboro.
He enjoyed spending quality time with his family camping at Scott’s Cove and fishing on his bass boat.
When his sons were younger, he took an interest in their Cub Scout activities and became involved as a pack leader. He was also instrumental in establishing a council in Springvale.
In the mid-70s and early 80s, he was an on-call member of the Sanford Fire Department.
Raymond is preceded in death by: his father, Raymond J. Martel Sr.; father-in-law, Robert Tardiff; stepfather, Charles Floyd; and brother-in-law, Donald Porrell.
He is survived by: his wife and best friend of 40 years, Linda (Tardiff) Martel of Shapleigh; sons, Jim Martel and his wife Kim of Standish, and Paul Martel and his girlfriend Carrie Coull of Lebanon; four granddaughters, Savannah Knight, Hannah Martel, Sophia Caron, and Faith Martel; his mother, Patricia Floyd of Sanford; sisters, Peg Porrell of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Susan Rogers of Sanford; brothers, Donald Martel and his wife Eny of Kennebunk, and Patrick Martel of Sanford; mother-in-law, Therese Tardiff of Acton; brothers-in-law, Bob Tardiff and his wife Candy of Sanford, Tom Tardiff of Acton, and Jack Garnsey and his wife Anne Marie of Springvale; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours for Raymond will be held on Monday from 5-8 p.m. at the Lafrance-Lambert & Black Funeral Home, 29 Winter St., Sanford.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday at 11 a.m. at St. Therese of Lisieux Parish, Holy Family Church in Sanford. Burial with military honors will follow at the Southern Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Springvale.
Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider contributions in support of and establishing a PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) fund for veterans and families in Ray’s name. Information will be available at the funeral home.
Condolences may be expressed at www.blackfuneralhomes.com.
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