Richard Allen Guilbault Sr.
April 27, 1968 –November 11, 2024.
PORTER— Richard Allen Guilbault Sr. – A friend to many, son, brother, husband, father, uncle, but best of all, a grandfather! Richard’s final hours were met with peace and comfort while in the care of his exceptionally large and extended abundance of family. In addition to the show of family support there was a presence of love and gentleness of the nursing staff at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House. Richard died following a short battle against lung cancer on November 11, 2024.
Richard was born in Portland, Maine at the old Osteopathic Hospital. A son to Ronald Horace Guilbault Sr. who preferred to be called “Ronnie” and Geraldine Rita Snow Guilbault better known as “Jerry.” Richard grew up right on Colcord Pond Road in Porter and lived most of this life in the town of Porter and surrounding SAD #55 area. He grew up in a farmhouse where he enjoyed many animals on the farm over the years including a cow named, “Megabucks,” amongst others. He is the youngest of six children between his folks deeming him the “baby” and proudly wearing that title. He is pre-deceased by both of his folks first losing his father in June 1995, followed later by his beloved mother April 2008.
Richard is also pre-deceased by his three sisters and a brother-in-law: Laura (Guilbault) Emmons, Flossie (Guilbault) Verrill, Deborah (Guilbault) Harris, and James “Jim” Harris. Still living are his siblings including a brother, Ronald “Butch” Horace Guilbault Jr. of Tuftonboro, NH, and Penny (Guilbault) Thorne of Baldwin. Extended family includes Thomas Emmons a brother-in-law of Baldwin. Clifford Verrill Jr. a brother-in-law of Porter. Carol Anthony Guilbault a sister-in-law of Tamworth, NH. Steven Thorne of Baldwin and foster brothers Dean Taylor and Joseph Holland.
Richard attended local district schools up until the ninth grade at Sacopee Valley Jr./Sr High School, soccer being his main driver of attendance. He always admitted sports would “keep the kids out of trouble.” He was a player for the Junior Varsity team coached by David Bonney and then Bob Logan as the Varsity Coach. After leaving school he went directly into the workforce and tried his hand at many jobs including laborer, construction, flagging, and others. Richard was most proud to have worked for his brother-in-law Clifford Verrill Jr. at Verrill Enterprises building unfinished furniture. He worked at the Ossipee Valley Fair every summer parking cars for the entire week despite elements such as rain or blistering hot sun. He worked tirelessly during that week to ensure that his children could get a chance at going to the fair on Sunday with ride bracelets. Other companies he worked for included Baybutt Construction, Yield House, and The Box Shop in Parsonsfield and numerous others.
His most recent employment was with the Riverside Cemetery since 2018. Richard took immense pride in his work at the cemetery and always wanted to do a respectable job. One way of giving back to his community and those who lived, thrived, and were laid to rest here. He was extremely focused on the attention to the details. He maintained the grounds to elevate its appearance giving him purpose to his days. But it was the manual labor that gave him the most reward in his job, hand digging each grave one by one. He did this with so much love and respect for the ritual, and the process. He continued to dig graves right up until he physically could not any longer about thirty days prior to his departure.
The most important accomplishments in Richard’s life were his children. The first arriving in August 1986 Santana Lyn (Guilbault/Hallstrom) Eastman, followed 13 months later by Crystal Marie Guilbault in September of 1987, Next, Richard Allen Guilbault Jr in April 1994, and then Travis James Guilbault in April 1996.
Richard taught his children the value of service by example. He could be found volunteering across many organizations in and out of his community over the years. He was a consistent volunteer at the Brownfield Food Pantry and believed that access to food was so important and never wanted anyone to be without. He was a member of the Kezar Falls Fire Department for approximately ten years. Some of Richard’s proudest moments were marching in the Kezar Falls Fire Department Color Guard. A sense of honor and duty were important to him, though he never served in the military there was a profound respect for his French- American heritage.
Richard met and married his first wife, Tammy Lyn Hallstrom, in 1987 and raised their two daughters together until they ultimately parted ways in 1993. Although, if you were to ask either of them, they would always say they were better off as friends anyway. They remained in contact with each other and their families as the years passed by. At various times offering support to each other along the crazy paths called life.
Richard went on to meet and marry Laura Lee Monroe Guilbault on May 6, 1995, and they have been together ever since. Marriage is challenging work and Laura and Richard together shared in the rearing of their blended family. Their dedication to family is evident in the years they have committed to one another. Being married for 29 years is a notable achievement to many. Richard and Laura were married at the Riverside Methodist Church in Kezar Falls, Maine where three of their four children participated in the nuptials. Best Man Thomas Emmons and Maid of Honor Sherri Wyman as well as other bridesmaids and groomsmen. They honeymooned locally and settled down in Porter, Maine. Together they enjoyed numerous staycations in the city, going dancing, and enjoying each other’s company no matter what they were doing, it was always together.
Richards favorite pastimes growing up included hunting and fishing with his family, watching WWE with his father, building things with his hands, putting together model cars, watching Nascar races with friends while eating Subway sandwiches, making specialized gifts for family and friends in the woodshop, cars, listening to music of all genres, going dancing at the old “Wagon Wheels”, hosting big family cook outs and spending time with family especially his grandchildren.
The role of friend to many was also particularly important to Richard. He would help anyone else out that he could. Often having truly little himself he would always find a way to share what he was able. Sometimes this meant making sure people had a place to lay their head at night or even a meal. To all the neighborhood kids he was “Uncle” and that included all the friends his children would often drag home. There are too many to count, but each of you just know, Uncle loved you and will continue to watch over you as you continue life’s journey.
As a son, he was remarkably close with his mother and father and having lost his father so young, he missed him dearly and was most hopeful to see him again one day. Losing his mother was a loss he endured and carried for many years.
The role of brother was often great and sometimes complex, but there was never any question that there was a bond between each of the siblings that was unique. It was love and it was deep and no matter what they could always put headache and heartache atop the shelf and reconnect in times of need. Family remained an important theme even in the end.
A grandfather was a special title afforded to Richard in 2001. Most definitely a surprise! But when the dust settled not one minute of regret from there on out. And as each one came next more joy and love ensued. His grandchildren gave him magnificent pleasure.
As a father, we knew he loved us. He was rigid with rules and expected a lot. Most likely to save us from ourselves. He was a young dad and was learning along the way which is so respected looking back today. He made the most of what he had and did the best he knew how and found ways to somehow make up for the rest. And even if he did not, we didn’t know. He was a dad who without the shadow of a doubt worked hard in ways that are more visible today than they were back then, but it was always for “us kids” even if we didn’t realize it.
Family is all we have in the end; Nothing else matters. Richard leaves behind his wife of 29 years, Laura of Porter, Maine; his daughters Santana L. Eastman and her husband Steven D. Eastman of Merrill, Maine who without having met Richard would not have met his wife, and daughter Crystal Guilbault of Lewiston, Maine. His sons Richard A. Guilbault Jr and his wife Alex Guilbault of Merrill, Maine and Travis J. Guilbault of Porter, Maine. He is lovingly survived by his six grandchildren: Steven D. Eastman Jr. of Mars Hill, Maine. Tika Gracelyn Eastman of Merrill, Maine. Jasmine Eastman-Guilbault of Merrill, Maine. Addilyn Guilbault of Merrill, Maine. Zane Guilbault of Porter, Maine. Aaliyah Guilbault of Merrill, Maine. There are of course several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins who survive him and will be deeply missed by.
While losing a brother, uncle, father, grandfather, or friend is emotionally difficult to bear there is some comfort in the memories we keep of Richard. We are the lucky ones for knowing him, loving him, and sharing in his jokes/pranks every day. What a sense of humor. He carried this on even in his last days with the doctors and nurses. They always enjoyed the banter of the jokester himself and the occasion flight of the bird. While his memory will live on inside each of us, he would also want you to know that he was at peace with his death. He told the doctors, “Doc, I am okay to die, it’s them that aren’t okay with it!” Lovingly reflecting on his family and friends undoubtedly. He knew it was going to be scary leaving so soon; He had worries for each one of us and therefore he worked hard to preserve any burden on us all, by not sharing about his illness until the very end. So, with that same spirit we ask that you try every day to dedicate your lives to family and to the service of others in some small way. It is because in the end when your time is up, that is what matters most is those moments. Living a life worth remembering and loving those around you.
While it would be impossible to thank everyone who helped with the care of Richard we would like to extend our gratitude to Sacopee Rescue for all the calls over the years, Sacopee Valley Health Center staff for knowing, understanding, and partnering with him in his care instead of directing orders (he never did like following directions), The Maine Medical Center Staff- Dr. William Jaffee & Dr. Christine Donahue, MD, Many nurses: Paul, RN (Thanks for being #1 in dad’s eyes), Lauren, RN, Nathan, RN, and James, RN. To the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House staff, especially Stephanie, RN who knew exactly how to help us navigate one of the hardest days of our lives. We were able to focus on Richard, our father and husband, giving us the time and space we needed to begin our grieving.
While Richard Allen Guilbault Sr. was not here for a long time, much like many of those who went before him, rest assure he was HERE, and he had a GOOD TIME.
A viewing and funeral service will be held at the Kezar Falls Assembly of God in Parsonsfield, Maine at 2pm on Wednesday, November 20th, 2024, with a private burial at Riverside Cemetery in the coming weeks.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Kezar Falls Fire Department. Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 70 Parsonsfield, Maine 04047 or giving to the local food pantries in the area.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Poitras, Neal & York Funeral Home, Cornish, www.mainefuneral.com