Arthur J Ouellette

Arthur J. Ouellette, 81, died peacefully in his sleep at Hospice House of Citrus County in Lecanto,  FL, on May 18, 2016,  after a prolonged illness.  He was beloved by his children, Suzanne (Ouellette) Mastrion and Eric A. Ouellette and his stepdaughter, Jennifer (Jennell) Daley. 
Arthur was born in Salem, MA, the son of the late Arthur and Sophie (Kobierski) Ouellette.  
He attended Salem High School, where he played football throughout his four years.  He enlisted in the Navy in 1952, where he served on the Carrier Midway as a meteorologist and received the Good Conduct Medal, the Navy Occupational Medal and the National Defense Service Ribbon.  His travels on the Midway took him throughout the Mediterranean and northern African coast.  After his Naval service, Arthur graduated from Salem State College in 1962, where he was President of the Newman Club and was active in athletics.  He became a social studies teacher in Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard, MA.  He then continued to teach in New Milford and Danbury, CT, coaching basketball and football for the next nine years while pursuing graduate studies at Columbia University.
In 1972, Arthur began a career that lasted 29 years with Groz-Beckett, a German textile needle company.  He moved to Charlotte, NC.  He was an avid fisherman, enjoyed camping, the outdoors and was a devoted Boston sports fan.  He was best known and loved for his humor and great affection for life and those he loved.  
Arthur was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 32 years, Catherine (Rixon) Ouellette and adoring sister, Gladys (Ouellette) Graczyk and nephew, Carl Graczyk.  He is survived by his children, Suzanne (Ouellette) Mastrion and husband Dominick Mastrion; Eric Ouellette and his wife Jennifer (Rogers) Ouellette;  their mother, Mary (Wilson) Johnson;  stepdaughter Jennifer (Jennell) Daley and her husband Robert Daley.
Arthur was a loving grandfather to Tess, Sophie and Faye Hinteregger; Chloe, Lila and Jensen Ouellette; and Camden and Hayden Daley.  He was a beloved brother-in-law to Chuck Graczyk and uncle to nephews and nieces, Scott and Steve Graczyk, Debbie (Graczyk) Galanis and Rona (Graczyk) Femino.  He will be greatly missed and forever remembered.

Services will be held at Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home in Inverness, FL, Sunday, May 22, 2016, at 1:00 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to Hospice House of Citrus County, 3350 West Audobon Park Path, Lecanto, FL  34461.