Orville Clayton Benoit Sr.

08/26/2006

Orville Clayton Benoit Sr., 65, of 85 Eagle St., died Saturday at Williamstown Commons following a battle with lung cancer. Born in Florida on Nov. 27, 1940, son of the late Leo Arthur Benoit Sr. and Elizabeth Gifford Benoit Alderman, he attended schools in North Adams and Adams. He was last employed as a caretaker at the Hyland Farms in Lee, until poor health forced him to retire. Previously, he had been employed for a short time at the Becklin and Dickson Co. in Connecticut, for several years as a truck driver for Berkshire Fuel and Modern Dairy, and also worked as a manager for several service stations in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Mr. Benoit was a former member of the First Baptist Church of North Adams. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle. He also enjoyed training and showing horses and won many ribbons and trophies. He leaves his former wife and longtime companion, Margaret Martin Benoit of North Adams. Besides his former wife, he leaves five daughters, Jamie Gamari, Lisa Butler and Leslie Erdeski, all of North Adams, Julie Hebert of Pownal, Vt., and Melissa Lescarbeau of Readsboro, Vt.; two sons, Orville C. Benoit Jr. and Matthew Benoit, both of North Adams; a sister, Rachel E. Dupre of Williamstown; a brother, Leo Arthur Benoit Jr. of Adams; nine stepchildren; and nine grandchildren. FUNERAL NOTICE -- Funeral services for Orville Clayton Benoit Sr., who died Saturday, Aug. 26, 2006, will take place Thursday at 1 p.m. at the FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME FOR FUNERALS, WEST CHAPELS. Burial will follow in Southview Cemetery. Calling hours at the funeral home are Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to VNA Hospice of Northern Berkshire through the funeral home, 521 West Main St., North Adams, MA 01247. He leaves two sons-in-law, Robert Erdeski and Shaun Hebert, and his former son-in-law, Robert Gamari of Clarksburg. He was predeceased by two sisters, Sylvia Anderson, who died in 1999, and Jeannie Marie Benoit, who died in infancy.

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Orville Clayton Benoit Sr.

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