Obituary of Raymond Blain

RAYMOND JOSEPH BLAIN (February 25, 1933 - April 11, 2021) It is with great sorrow we announce the passing of Raymond Joseph Blain, a resident of Dawson Creek, British Columbia, on Sunday, April 11, 2021, at the age of 88 years. Raymond Blain took ill in March 2021. He spent a couple days in the Dawson Creek Hospital before he was transferred to the Prince George Hospital Due to difficulties with the impact of Covid-19, he spent a couple weeks in hospital. On Sunday, April 11, 2021, family had their final visit with Raymond, and he passed away later that afternoon. Raymond Joseph Blain was born Saturday, February 25, 1933, in Lacolle, Quebec, followed by two younger sisters Jacqueline & Marina (survived by youngest sister Marina). Their parents were Achille Blain and Rose Abel Langlois. He married Huguette Bourdeau on October 8, 1955, in the same church he was baptised in, Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Lacolle, Quebec. They had 5 daughters together. Unfortunately, they lost one daughter, Francine (born April 1958), at 3 years old from complications due to having holes in her heart. They separated some years later, and much later divorced. Huguette recently passed on, March 19, 2022. They are survived by their four daughters Michelle Yvette (born January 18, 1956), who lives in Nova Scotia, Louise Rose Abel (born January 25, 1957), Ghislaine Collen (born November 29, 1959) and Sylvie Jacqueline (born November 4, 1962), all three live in Quebec. Raymond grew up in Lacolle, Quebec, with his sisters, and enjoyed playing hockey, especially goalie position. He worked at a sawmill and stayed in a logging camp over a 4-year period near Malone, New York. His dad helped him buy his first truck, and he was a truck driver for many years in the Quebec and New York areas, and for a short time in Sook, before moving to Dawson Creek in 1975. Raymond met Eliza May Orr in 1968, and they were common-law for 32 years, until she passed on November 4, 2000, from complications during a surgery done in Edmonton, Alberta. They bought a 1960s house on 115 Ave in Dawson Creek, where they raised Mays grandson Edward Eddie Lyn Crosbie, from the time he was 3 years old, taking him duck hunting and fishing in the local areas. Raymond drove Truck for Trimac for many years, and then for Dufour hauling mail up to the Yukon and other areas in British Columbia for the last 10 years of his career. Later, after Raymond passed, and weather was warmer, Eddie held a small service (due to Covid restrictions) for some of Raymonds trucker buddies, which was very much appreciated. In 2001, Hattie Soucy and her daughter Nicole moved in with Raymond. Eddie had already moved out and was making his way in life. Nicole got married a few years later and moved to Prince George, unfortunately she passed 10 years later, at the age of 41 years, leaving Hattie devastated. Raymond and Hattie went fishing, duck hunting, and tended their flowers together. He took great pride in the flowers they planted, in the flower boxes that he made and hung on their fence at the front of the house. He took many pictures of such. Raymond went on a hunting trip to Africa with a buddy and brought back many souvenirs, pictures, and stories of his experience. After Raymond retired and quit hunting and fishing, his daily routine became visiting his buddies at the coffee shops in town. He hung out at A&W and Robins Donuts for awhile, but in the last few years, it was McDonalds in the mornings and Tim Hortons in the afternoon. Raymond and Hattie were together for 20 years before he passed. Less than 6 months later, Hattie passed on October 1, 2021. Raymond is missed by many, gone but not forgotten. Very Respectfully, Reynars Funeral Home and Crematorium