FORT KENT --Raymond Albert Bouchard, 88, passed away peacefully on March 18, 2026, at Northern Maine Medical Center, surrounded by the love of his family.

Raymond was born on October 23, 1937, in Edmundston, New Brunswick, Canada to Albert and Laurie (Lozier) Bouchard. Raised along Caribou Road (Route 161) in Fort Kent, Raymond grew up embracing the values of hard work, faith, and family that would guide him throughout his life. Proud of his dual citizenship and his Acadian roots, he carried a deep appreciation for both his Canadian heritage and his Maine community.

A graduate of Fort Kent High School’s Class of 1956, Raymond answered the call to serve his country by joining the United States Army in 1958. He trained and served with the renowned 82nd Airborne Division as a paratrooper until 1959—a time he remembered with pride and camaraderie.

Raymond built a long and respected career as a heavy equipment operator, working steadily until the age of 68. Even in retirement, his strong work ethic kept him active, and he continued operating equipment part-time until he was 85. For nearly 15 years, he also balanced his full-time job with livestock farming, a testament to his energy and dedication.

On September 29, 2006, Raymond married the love of his later years, Rita (Deschaine-Plourde) Bouchard, at St. Louis Catholic Church. Together, they shared nearly two decades of companionship, laughter, and quiet moments that brought him great happiness.

A man of deep faith, Raymond was a devoted member of the Catholic Church and a proud member of the Knights of Columbus. His faith shaped the way he treated others—with kindness, humility, and a steady willingness to lend a hand.

Raymond found his greatest joy outdoors. From childhood, he was an avid fisherman, happiest beside a quiet river or lake. He loved hunting, camping, and tending to his gardens, which he carefully maintained until the fall of 2025. In quieter moments, he crafted walking canes from naturally curved branches, each one unique, reflecting both his patience and his creativity.

He is survived by his loving wife, Rita Bouchard of Fort Kent; his children, Joe Bouchard and wife Joan of Milford, Karen Snell and husband Don of Presque Isle, Laurie Bouchard Clark and husband Jeff of Presque Isle, and Rebecca Bouchard of Presque Isle; and his stepchildren, Danford Plourde and wife Donna of Canton, Connecticut, Lynn Plourde Tardif of Fort Kent, Gina Charette and husband Mark of Fort Kent, Dana Plourde of Fort Kent, and Connie Herbert and husband Daniel of Daigle. He is also survived by his sister, Janice Ransford of Huntley, Illinois, and his brother, Robert Bouchard and wife Jerlyn of Silverthorne, Colorado.

Raymond was a proud grandfather to 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, as well as 8 step-grandchildren and 10 step-great-grandchildren, all of whom brought him immense pride and joy.

He was predeceased by his first wife, Gloria (Johnson) Bouchard, to whom he was married from April 8, 1961, until her passing on March 8, 2006; his brother, Richard “Dick” Bouchard; and his parents, Albert and Laurie Bouchard.

Raymond will be remembered as a hardworking and humble man, a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend, and someone who felt most at peace beneath the open sky. His legacy lives on in the strong family he built, the fields he tended, and the many lives he touched with his quiet generosity and steady presence.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated, Saturday, August 29, 2026, at 10am, St. Louis Church in Fort Kent. In keeping with Raymond’s wishes, there will be no visiting hours. Arrangements have been entrusted to Lajoie-Daigle Funeral Home. For online condolences, please visit www.lajoiefuneralhome.com