CLEMENT F. (SONNY) GAGNON

MARCH 20, 1940-February 27, 2025

The family of Clement (Sonny) Gagnon who was 84 years old and resided in Old Orchard Beach, Maine is sad to announce his passing on Thursday morning, February 27th peacefully at his home.

Clem was born in Berlin, NH on March 20, 1940. He was the son of Leo D. Gagnon and Yvonne M. Gagnon and brother to sister Shirley Bahr.

He was a graduate of Berlin High School class of 1958. He proudly served in the US Navy and was assigned to the USS John Willis, DE-1027 where he was enlisted during the Vietnam War and Cuban Missile Crises era. Upon retiring after his four year enlistment, he attended Chaffey College in California and then Burdett College in Boston earning him a degree in Marketing. After graduating, he was employed and appointed manager of the NH pavilion at the NYC Worlds Fair in 1964-1965. He then took nearly a lifelong and successful career working with the Christmas Club Corporation in NYC where he rose through the ranks to become Senior Vice President. In 2002, both Clem and his wife Patty purchased the company and changed its name to US Payment Systems where they both successfully managed and grew the company until their retirement in 2019.

Clem was a member of the American Legion, NRA, U.S. Navy League, Ad Specialty Institute, N.E. Promotional Products Assoc and a member of the St. Marguerite Catholic Church in Old Orchard Beach, ME.

He enjoyed many activities with his family throughout the years including camping, skiing, hunting, travel and caring for his home and gardens. His love for being on the ocean was evident by taking 31 ship cruises throughout the Caribbean & Europe and his annual winter trips to Fort Myers, Florida with family and friends.

Clem's humor was one of his best traits! He was always known for making people laugh with his odd and unique one liners. Most everyone, especially the grandchildren laughed endlessly when around him.

He is pre-deceased by his wife Rochelle Vaillancourt Gagnon, daughter Nicole, his parents and sister.

Clem is survived by his wife Patricia Benoit Gagnon, daughter Michelle Burrows and husband Winston, son Marc Gagnon, stepchildren Kim & Jack Miller, Dawn and Joseph Comeau and Scott Benoit including a total of 12 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews who all loved him.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 1PM Thursday, March 13, 2025, at St. Margaret's Church, 6 Saco Avenue, Old Orchard Beach, ME.

This spring, interment of his ashes will be put to rest at the family plot in the Holy Family Cemetery in Gorham, NH as well as Laurel Hill Cemetery in Saco, ME.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Animal Welfare Society in Kennebunk, ME.

Clem's quote about death:

"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely or in an attractive and well-preserved body but rather to skid into it sideways, all used up and worn out while screaming, WOO HOO, what a ride!"