Ernest Arthur Ray

POLAND- Ernest (Ernie) A. Ray, age 86, passed away Saturday July 20, 2024 peacefully at his home with his daughter Tracy and her husband Mike by his side. He graduated from Edward Little High School in 1955 and later attended Central Maine Vocational Institute in Auburn as well as University of Maine in Orono. He married his high school sweetheart Rita C. Lalemand on August 31, 1957. They raised 3 lovely daughters, Tina, Tammy and Tracy. While in high school, he had a morning Sun Journal paper route with 110 customers. He also worked with his father at his cabinet shop and in the summer at Wallingfords Apple Orchard.

After schooling he was employed by Aliberti, Larochelle & Hudson (A L & H) engineering firm in Lewiston for over 30 years and became a director and partner in the firm as a structual, civil and mechanical designer, project manager and estimator. During his time with the engineering firm, he organized 35 other engineering firms and helped found CMAA (Construction Managers Association of America) a national professional construction management association serving as its Director for 2 years. He then became president and CEO of A L & H Construction Management firm, the 1st construction management firm in Maine. He later formed his own construction management company, Ernest A. Ray & Associates in Auburn serving as a general contractor for over 10 years. He later became a sales consultant for many years for Murox High Performance Metal Building System, a division of Groupe Canam of Saint-George, Quebec, one of Canada's largest steel and fabrication firms. He has been involved with more than 100 building projects and over 60 years in the design and construction industry until his passing.

He was a past president and director of the East Auburn Men’s Club, playing on the men’s softball team for over 20 years and volleyball league. Past president and director with the Lewiston/Auburn Rotary Club and honored to be a Paul Harris Fellow. Former member of Auburn Board of Appeals. Former chairman of the Town of Poland's first charter commission. Past director of Auburn’s Business Association. Former member of Construction Specification Institute. Former member of American Arbitration Association. He was a junior assistant Scoutmaster and Eagle Scout. Ernie was a national ski patrol member for 14 years at Sunday River Ski Resort and built their 1st first aid building. He was also very active with snowmobiling with his family and friends, and a past member of the Andy Valley Sno Gypsies snowmobile club.

He was also very active in other sports such as bowling and golf. He loved watching golf, baseball and football on tv. When the Patriots were losing he would go to the 4th step on his staircase to watch the remainder of the game as this was surely the “lucky spot” for them to turn things around. He loved family camping at Hermit Island, Acadia National Park and the numerous motorhome adventures with his fellow motorhome club members. Most of all, the sport he loved the most was deer hunting.

Every November his wife, Rita, became “single” however, he would always return for her birthday on the 18th. He also enjoyed the thrill of moose hunting. His name was one of the names drawn in 1980 for the very first moose lottery in Maine which set the tone for the many years that followed of him being involved in the sport in whatever capacity he was able to. Whenever you spent time with him, you most likely would be a recipient of the many stories about fishing in Canada, the deer that got away (but that hardly ever happened, seriously, he had quite an aim), or moose adventures that he encountered over his lifetime. He loved watching his daughters sports in their younger years and watching his grandsons hockey games. He was a very passionate spectator who was not afraid to speak his mind.

He is preceded in death by his parents Ernest and Adrienne Ray, brother Douglas Ray and his wife Ilise, his loving wife Rita and his beautiful daughter Tina. He is survived by his daughter Tammy Lou Ray, her son Jacob Bissonnette, her son Joey Bissonnette and his wife Sarah and their children Lucy, Holly and Emmett, his daughter Tracy Ray-Lavoie and her husband Michael Lavoie and their sons Ryan and Riley, his grandson Derek Ray and his wife Robyn and their children Addison, Oliver and Lachlan, his sister Shirley Everhart and her husband David, his brother Robert Ray and his wife Linda, his brother Richard Ray and his wife Maida, his brother Kenneth Ray and his wife Allyson as well as numerous nieces and nephews. We could not have gotten through this difficult time without the support of dear friends Jerry and Lynne and the wonderful staff of Andwell for their heartfelt care, especially Paulette his RN and Pam his CNA.

A Celebration of Life Service honoring Ernest’s life will be celebrated on Friday, August 2, 2024 at 11:00 AM at the Vineyard Church of Mechanic Falls, 90 Lewiston Street, Mechanic Falls, Maine 04256. Committal Services will then follow at Mount Auburn Cemetery. Those wishing may make donations in Ernest’s memory to Andwell Health Partners, 15 Strawberry Avenue, Lewiston, Maine 04240, 1-800-482-7412, www.andwell.org. At the family’s request there will not be any visitation. Arrangements by The Fortin Group 70 Horton Street, Lewiston, Maine 04240, 784-4584. Online condolences and sharing of memories may be expressed at www.thefortingrouplewiston.com .