BATH — Raymond Joseph Cote, 71, died Thursday, July 5 at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston. He was born in Manchester, N.H. on July 30, 1940, a son of Robert J. and Yvonne (Pepin) Cote. On December 15, 1987, he married Marilynne “Lynn” Griffin.

He attended New Hampshire schools and Catholic schools in Canada. In 1957, he graduated from Somersworth (N.H.) High School. Cote entered the U.S. Navy in July of that year, and was stationed at bases across the country and overseas, including the Azores and Morocco. Cote served during the Vietnam War, receiving two Good Conduct Awards. He retired in 1979 as a Navy Counselor Chief.  

Cote was employed at the Brunswick Naval Base and at The Supervisor of  Shipbuilding in Bath, retiring after 35 years of government service. In 2006, Cote received a heart transplant at Brigham & Women’s Hospital, and then became an active advocate of the Donate Life campaign.

He was a member of the Bath Lodge of Elks, a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 21 in Bath, and a lifetime member of the VFW in Lisbon.

Cote enjoyed playing pool, and was state director of the Valley National Eight Ball Association for 21 years. He enjoyed trips to Quebec and Las Vegas for pool tournaments. He loved spending time with his family, his many friends, and his two special dogs, Beau and MaGoo. He was an avid Red Sox and New England Patriots fan.

Cote is survived by his wife, Marilynne, of Bath; a son, David, and his wife, Francee, of Tennessee; stepson Ronald Griffin and his wife, Beth, of Georgia; stepson Bill Griffin and his wife, Shilo, of Pennsylvania; daughter Denise Brown and her husband, Michael, of New Jersey; daughter Jeannine Clark and her husband, Rod, of Tennessee; a stepdaughter, Tammy Nicholson, and her husband, Mark, of Lewiston; and seven grandchildren, Hayly, R.J., Dakota, Ashley, Chayse, Ryan and Lucas.

A celebration of Cote’s life will be held Saturday, August 18, at 1 p.m., at the New Auburn Social Club, 7 Second Street, New Auburn, with a gathering of family and friends to follow. Memorial contributions may be made to the New England Organ Bank, 60 First Avenue, Waltham, MA 02451.

Arrangements are by Daigle Funeral Home, 819 High Street, Bath. Condolences may be made online at daiglefuneralhome.com.


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