Everett John "Joe" LaBree, 83, of Princeton passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Thursday, August 11th at UMass.
His wife, Evelyn G. "Maggie" (Gablaski) LaBree of 64 years predeceased him on May 8, 2016.
He leaves five children, Susan M. LaBree and her boyfriend, Francis D. Sposato of Worcester, John E. LaBree and his wife Carmen (Martin) of Leominster, Sandra E. LaBree of Worcester, Bruce J. LaBree and his wife, Cindy (Harris) of Benzonia, MI. and Cheryl A. (LaBree) Briand and her husband Glenn of Worcester. His sisters Bernadine and Judy, 10 grandchildren, many great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was born in Leicester, MA. on July 19, 1933, son of Everett LaBree and Margaret R. McKeon. His brother Richard and sisters Ann, and Mary predeceased him.
Joe was always working two jobs. He went to great lengths to provide a comfortable life and recreation for his family. Joe was a skilled carpenter by trade and built many homes on Cape Cod in the 50’s, five homes in Ossipee, NH, several homes in Worcester with the Wickwire Brothers and his own homes in Princeton and New Hampshire. Joe worked for Johnson Steel & Wire for 28 years until the plant closed in 1986. He started his own retail shellfish company selling Maine Shrimp, Quahogs and Clams off the back of his pickup truck on the streets of Worcester. In 1979 Joe and Maggie started Wachusett Wood Products selling cord wood. Joe retired from the wood business in 2013 at the age of 80.
Joe was always happy working, but he enjoyed the peace of the woods most of all. He would share stories of sitting on a cut log eating his lunch when a deer, moose, fox or other wildlife would come near him and he enjoyed the peace of being in their surroundings. Maggie would work alongside him running the wood splitter then stacking the wood in the truck for delivery. They were a great hard working team.
Joe and Maggie enjoyed many years with family, relatives and many friends at Lake Ossipee, NH, Homossasa, FL, and Princeton. They knew how to work hard but always found time to have fun. The memories they created will be joyously shared for many years to come by all those who’s lives they have touched. Maggie and Joe will be whole heartedly missed by all.
Visiting hours for Evelyn and Everett will be Friday, August 26, from 5 to 7 PM at Callahan, Fay & Caswell Funeral Home, 61 Myrtle Street, Worcester, MA. Burial service will be Saturday, August 27 at 11 AM in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Rte. 122 and 32 in Barre, MA. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Wachusett Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary, c/o Fund for Nature, Mass Audubon, 208 South Great Rd., Lincoln, MA 01773.