Louis “Ray” Lefebvre, 93, born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island on June 23, 1924 to Isadore and Beatrice Lefebvre, passed away on October 16, 2017 at the Arbor Rose assisted living in Mesa, Arizona.
Ray served in the Navy during WW II for six years. Following his military years, he had a small restaurant in Rhode Island. He joined Montgomery Wards and was transferred from store to store throughout Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois. Ray finally ended his 33-year career in the Chicago area in 1985. After his retirement, Ray went on to real estate school and got his broker’s license. He went to work with his then son-in-law, Jon Welker, in Barrington, Illinois for a couple of years. Finally, he wanted to travel in his RV, so that’s what he did with his wife Linda. They traveled to Alaska several times to go fishing and sightseeing with his brother-in-law, Archie, and sister-in –law, Sharon. They took many trips with the Avion Club, trips to Florida and Ohio, Canada, Mexico, or wherever they wanted to go. They always had to stop at a Casino on their trips using their parking lots as a free campground. During the summers, he ran a family owned campground in Woodstock, Illinois.
In 1995, they bought a park model at Superstition Sunrise Resort in Apache Junction, Arizona preparing to settle down there when it was time to quit traveling. While at Superstition Sunrise, he volunteered for many things, including running the Cabana, Saturday morning breakfasts, steak fries, and specialty dinners. He just loved cooking and working with his many volunteers. He played water volley ball a couple nights a week, he enjoyed reading the gospel at Chapel once a month during the winter season. He enjoyed sitting out on Henry Fonda Street, our street at Superstition Sunrise, when all the winter visitors came back to Arizona just talking, telling jokes, and drinking coffee. He spent his last years in Apache Junction at Superstition Sunrise Resort in the winter and for 3 years he spent the summers in Show Low, Arizona. When it became too hard to travel in the RV, Superstition Sunrise became his home.
Ray leaves his wife of 48 years, Linda Lower Lefebvre; a sister, Connie Menneke of Rome, New York; a son, Louis R, Jr (Chuck) Carol Lefebvre from Rushsylvania, Ohio; a daughter, Hazel Welker Asti (husband Pierre Asti) from Libertyville, Illinois; son, Arthur (Chip) Eileen Lefebvre from Rolling Meadows, Illinois; 7 grandchildren, Nathan Lefebvre, Jacob Lefebvre, Emily (Jon) Brody, Whitney Welker, Shawna (Brendan) Chambers, Samantha Lefebvre, Brandon (Andrea) Lefebvre; 7 great grandchildren, Annie Jo Lefebvre, Ben, Kate & Jack Brody, Scarlett & Thomas Chambers, and Savanna Lefebvre. He also left many good friends and nieces and nephews.
He will be interred at Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery in Mesa, Arizona. Plans for a memorial service are pending.
Only knew Ray for the past five years or so, but really enjoyed his company. Loved his sense of humor, going to the American Legion for chicken dinners, and our many games of Hand and Foot against Linda and VickI afterwards. They usually slaughtered us, but we always had fun, and Linda would placate our wounded feelings coffee and cake. He lived a long, full life, and I surely will miss him.
We knew Ray and Linda for a very long time. Since the beginning of their settling in Apache Junction Az. We were very good friends. We played cards, went on a couple of cruises together,had dinners together and just had fun with him. He even drove to Hamilton Ontario Canada and stayed here in his 5th wheel in our driveway one summer. It was just great having them both here. He was a great cook, Norm always enjoyed his food at the cabana at the resort. Everybody loved Ray. We are saddened to hear of his passing, we will always remember him. Helen and Norm Dube