Maurice Pelletier Sr.

Maurice (Frenchy) Raymond Pelletier Sr. passed away at 3 p.m., July 11, 2015, at his home in Sliverdale, Washington, from congestive heart failure.

He was born Sept. 3, 1929, to Joseph and Aurore (Ricard) Pelletier in St. Boniface, Manitoba, Canada. He was the youngest of five children and the only boy. He was the joy of his mother’s heart. He grew up in St. Jeanne Baptist, Manitoba.

At 17 he joined the Royal Canadian Navy serving on the Tribal class RCN Cayuga during the Korean War. While on shore leave in Victoria, BC, he met Dorothy Beals. They married April 23, 1951. They moved to Palmer in 1953, raising eight children together.

Maurice worked for Matanuska Maid for more than 29 years, retiring at 53. He and Dorothy became snowbirds for 30 years between Yuma, Arizona, and Palmer. In 2005 Dorothy’s health prevented them from traveling to Alaska and they summered in Redmond, Oregon. Dorothy was admitted in 2013 to a full care Alzheimer’s facility in Port Orchard, Washington, with Maurice staying nearby.

Maurice always wanted to return to Alaska to see family and friends. He was proud to call Palmer home.

Maurice was preceded in death by his four sisters; grandson, David Sexton; and daughter, Marguerite Elmore.

Surviving are his wife, Dorothy; children, Raymond (Sharon) Pelletier, Nancy (David) Sexton, Joe (Dayle) Pelletier, Simone (Tim) Smith, Jeanne (Tim) Carvalho, Maurice (Debby) Pelletier Jr., Leo Pelletier; 21 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren, and more on the way.

There are no services scheduled, as was his wish.