Raymond 'Ray' Burgoyne

Raymond ‘Ray’ F. Burgoyne, 74, lifelong resident of Jaffrey, NH, died peacefully on September 1, 2014 at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester with his wife by his side after a period of failing health. He was born in Peterborough, NH on March 11, 1940, son of the late Joseph and Madeline (Brown) Burgoyne. Ray was educated in Jaffrey and graduated from Conant High School in 1958. While in school he worked for Coll’s Farm and for Alfred Sawyer. After graduation, Ray and his best friend Anthony Cote Jr. entered the Air Force. In 1959, he met the love of his life, the former Betty Poodiack of Peterborough, NH and they married on July 13, 1963. They were married for 51 years celebrating many anniversaries with trips to the Caribbean and to Hawaii for their 50th. In 1970 Ray celebrated the birth of his daughter, Suzanne Marie, followed in 1972 with the birth of his son, Raymond Frank. Ray worked for Aubuchon Hardware for almost 51 years. He started in Jaffrey and when the store closed he worked in the Leominster, MA store and then Keene, NH, and was still working part-time at the Rindge location at the time of his passing. He was known for his personality, always ready and willing to help the customer. He not only could sell them what they needed, he could tell them how to fix whatever the problem was. Ray enjoyed working and helping people. For fun, he enjoyed working on his home, much of which he built himself, gardening, mowing his lawn and spending time with his family. Ray especially enjoyed the visits from his granddaughters which were never often enough but so welcomed. He also loved time with his daughter who lived with them and the visits from his son from North Carolina. When he had time, he enjoyed reading and crossword puzzles. He also loved all the wild animals that visited. Besides his parents, Ray’s brothers Joseph and Leonard Burgoyne both died earlier. Survivors include his loving and devoted wife, Betty (Poodiack) Burgoyne of Jaffrey; his children, Suzanne Burgoyne of Jaffrey and Raymond Burgoyne and his wife Tammy of Raleigh, NC; his siblings and their spouses, Alice Chicoine and her husband Norman of Templeton, MA, George Burgoyne and his wife of Peachtree, GA; his granddaughters Jennifer and Melissa Burgoyne of San Diego, CA. Ray is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends, including the Aubuchon Family and employees, and his lifetime and best friend Anthony Cote Jr. and his wife Evie of Northampton, NH. Friends and family are warmly invited to Calling hours on Friday, September 5, 2014 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at the Cournoyer Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 33 River Street (Route 202 South), Jaffrey. Funeral Services will be held in the funeral home chapel on Saturday, September 6, 2014 at 10:00 AM. Rev. Wilfred Deschamps will officiate. Burial will follow in Saint Patrick Cemetery In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions for those who wish may be made to the American Heart Association, New Hampshire Affiliate, 2 Wall Street, Manchester NH 03101 or the Monadnock Region Humane Society, 101 W. Swanzey Rd, Swanzey, NH 03446. http://thetributecenter.com/tributeplayer/default.aspx?webvideoID=16211 http://thetributecenter.com/tributeplayer/default.aspx?webcasteventid=4285#/webcast