Raymond J. Aubut
Renowned Square Dance Caller for almost 40 years;
Lowell, MA - Raymond J. Aubut, 85, of Dracut & Lowell, MA passed away peacefully on Saturday June 11, 2016 after a brief illness, surrounded by his loving family.
He was the beloved husband of Carole (Handley) Aubut and would have celebrated 65 years of marriage on September 16, 2016. They resided in Dracut for over 50 years where they raised their three daughters and also resided in Naples Florida & most recently Lowell, MA. Born in Lowell, Massachusetts on May 9, 1931, Ray was the son of the late Edward and the late Alice (McNabb) Aubut. He was a loving son, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, brother-in-law, uncle & friend. He will be missed by all who knew him. Ray was raised in the Centralville section of Lowell and attended Lowell schools. He owned two service stations on Andover Street & High Street in Lowell for several years. He was also a sales representative for Northeast Petroleum and later a Realtor for Century 21 in Lowell and Carlson Real Estate in Chelmsford.
Ray was very proud of his career as a Square Dance Caller as he and Carole danced and he called & taught square dancing for close to 40 years. He & Carole became members of the Town Travelers Square Dance Club in 1967, and soon were involved as dance leaders & club president. For many years he called at New England Square and Round Dance conventions. Ray was a member of the Tri-State Callers Assoc., New England Council of Callers Assoc. (NECCA), CALLERLAB, and the Square Dance Foundation of New England, Inc. He was a chairman and member of the New England Square & Round Dance Cooperation Committee & served on the executive board of the New England Council of Callers Association. He held many offices, including Chairman of NECCA. He called for the Slips N'Clutches, Skirts & Flirts, Calico Steppers, Alpine Squares & in Naples Florida. He was a member of LEGACY (Dancer-Caller-Round Dance Leader Association), was a proud recipient of the Yankee Clipper Award in 1990 and was inducted into the Square Dance Foundation Hall of Fame.
In addition, he and Carole published The New England Square Dance Caller Magazine for 12 years. Ray also loved bowling with the Alpine Bowling League of Lowell and was an avid card player at their regular Saturday night group. He had been a member of the Longmeadow Golf Club and the Vesper Country Club.
Besides his wife Carole, he is also survived by his three daughters Nancy (Aubut) Lafontaine and her husband Lee Lafontaine of Winter Springs, FL, Betty Aubut of Asheville, NC, Peggy (Aubut/D'Addario) Patenaude Osbaldeston and her husband Joseph Osbaldeston of North Andover; 5 grandchildren Paul Lafontaine and his wife Carrie of Winter Park, FL, Janet (Lafontaine) Plummer and her husband Steven of Oviedo, FL, Stephen D'Addario of Andover, Justin D'Addario of North Andover, and Deven D'Addario of Celebration, FL. He is also survived by 4 great-grandchildren; Danica, Reid, Alaina and Elin. Also survived by his sister-in-law and brother-in-law Viola & Donald Anderson of Dracut, nieces Carole Ann Roberts of Dracut, & Sharon O'Brien of Virginia & nephews Donald W. Anderson, Jr. and his wife Antonette of Salem, NH, and Thomas Aubut of Lowell; great nieces Kaitlyn Roberts, Michael Anderson and Stephanie Anderson.
Ray is pre-deceased by his brother Edward Aubut & his wife Theresa and his sister Isabelle Westover and her husband Herbert.
Friends may call at the O'DONNELL FUNERAL HOME, 276 PAWTUCKET ST. at Fletcher from 4 to 8 P.M. Tuesday June 14th. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Funeral Service Wednesday morning June 15th at the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME at 10 o’clock. Burial in St. Patrick Cemetery. E-condolences/directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in his memory to the NECCA Scholarship Fund, John Wedge, 100 Merrimack Ave, Apt #1, Dracut, MA 01826. Arrangements by Funeral Directors James F. O'Donnell, Jr. and John W. Crane (978 or 866) 458-8768.
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