Joseph Victor Lemaire

JOSEPH VICTOR LEMAIRE, 82, of Sherwood, Arkansas passed away Saturday, June 8, 2013 with his children at his side. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on July 1, 1930, the son of Joseph V. Lemaire and Dorothy Kane Lemaire. Jay moved to Blue Point, Long Island, N.Y. as a young boy where he completed his education and found his love for the water and boating. He joined the Navy when he finished High School and served for five years. One of his ports of call was Newport, R.I. where he met Lorraine and they were married six weeks later. They were married 60 years. He then joined the Reserves and retired from there in 1983 with 33 years of service. After living a couple years on Long Island they moved back to Newport where he was employed by the City of Newport as the first parking Meter Man with the newly installed meters. He then went on to work for the City in the Water Pollution Department maintaining and monitoring the Pumping Stations in Newport until his retirement in 1983. He was always involved with boats and ran evening and weekend fishing charters with his sons as his mates. He was a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and did boat inspections and taught Boat Safety Classes which he has continued this in Washington starting the first Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Life Jackets for Children Program. After retirement he spent three years working with the America's Cup Syndicate which took him to Bermuda, Boston and finally Australia. His duties with the America's Cup was to run the tender which towed the 12 meter yachts out to sea and to carry Press and Guests out to watch the races. When the company Lorraine worked for decided to open a manufacturing plant in Washington in 1988 and made her manager, she hired Jay. He took a two-month crash course in maintenance in Rhode Island and came to Missouri to set up all the departments and equipment needed to operate. He took advantage of his boss (Lorraine) at lunch hours when Rotary took priority. After retirement from Hodges Badge Company they loaded up the Suburban, put a bumper sticker on the car saying "LIVE LONG AND AVENGE YOUR CHILDREN!" and headed to North Little Rock, where he lived out his final days. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Lorraine Lemaire, Oct. 30, 2012 of Sherwood. He is survived by his children: daughter, Robyn Lemaire, of Sherwood; sons, Michael Lemaire (Cathrine) of Woodland, Calif., Thomas Lemaire, of Newport, R.I., and Jeff Lemaire (Debbie) of North Little Rock; five grandsons, Matt (Jennifer), Nicholas, William, Thomas Jr. and Christian Lemaire; granddaughter, Michelle Lemaire; great-grandson, Stetson Patrick Lemaire; and a host of family and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife and soul mate, Lorraine Lemaire. Jay will be cremated, so in lieu of flowers, please make memorials to the Sherwood Rotary Club or the National Audubon Society which were both dear to Jay's heart. Visitation will be at 11 a.m. with memorial service to follow at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, June 10, 2013 at Victory Baptist Church, 515 Sherwood St., Sherwood, Ark. Online obituary and guest registry at www.SmithFamilyCares.com.