HAWLEY – Richard G. “Dick” Desmarais, 80, of Hawley and a former longtime resident of the Aldenville section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2012. He passed into Eternal Life at his home in Hawley surrounded by the care and comfort of his entire loving family and his canine companion Jake. He was born at home on Worthington Street in the Aldenville section of Chicopee on January 2, 1932, a beloved son of the late Francis X. Desmarais, Sr. and Merilda (Morin) Desmarais. He was raised in Chicopee, graduated in 1951 from Chicopee High School and lived in Aldenville until 1994 when he moved to “God’s Country” in Hawley. He served his country in the United States Navy during the Korean War and attained the rank of Aviation Ordnance Man Third Class. He received the National Defense Service Medal, the China Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal. Following his military service, he returned to Chicopee. During his work career, Dick was employed for numerous businesses including Henry Morin Construction, Big Y Supermarket Delivery, Lucky Strike Bowling Alley, Moore Drop Forge, Savage Arms, Desmarais Oil & Ice Company, Beaudry Milk Company, and Richard’s Auto Repair. He was the Owner and Operator of Chickley Alps Ski Area, the Publisher of the New England Woods & Water Paper and the President of the Creative Outdoor Travel Agency. While living in Chicopee, Richard was a 22 year Assessor for the City of Chicopee before retiring in 1990. As an active retiree and upon moving to Hawley, Dick served the Town of Hawley as a Selectman, a member of the Board of Assessors and a member of the Board of Health from 1995 to the present. He was a member of the Aldenville American Legion Post 337, the Chicopee Lodge of Elks 1849, the Knights of Columbus Elder Council 69 in Chicopee, the New England Outdoor Writers Association, the Friends of the NRA Committee, the Laurier Club, the Massachusetts Association of Assessors, the Ashfield Rod & Gun Club, President of the Aldenville Athletic Club Association, the Gun Owner’s Action League, and a longtime coach for the AJAC Sports Club. Dick loved the outdoors and loved his home in Hawley. He was an avid hunter and his relaxation each evening was riding around the town scouting for deer. He also enjoyed cutting trees and splitting wood on his property which he claimed was not work but relaxation. His home was always open to his family and his many friends. People would often remark that his home was like entering the wild kingdom with many of the animal trophies that he had hunted over the years. Above all, he cherished his family and showered them with his love and affection which was returned to him a thousand fold. Active in his faith, he was a former longtime communicant of Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Aldenville where he was a member of the League of the Sacred Heart. He was currently a communicant of Saint Christopher Mission Church in Charlemont where he was a longtime Lector for the Parish. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend, Therese L. (Chartier) Desmarais. They were married on April 11, 1953 at Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Aldenville and were blessed with over 59 years of happiness together. He also leaves: his loving children, David R. Desmarais and his wife, Sherry Fowler, of Savoy, Debra A. LaFlamme and her husband, Bruce, of Granby, Dean F. Desmarais and his wife, Maria, and Donna M. Lemoine and her husband, Wayne, all of Chicopee; his nine cherished grandchildren whom he adored, Melissa Sabri and her husband, Mousin, Ami Desmarais, Philip LaFlamme and his wife, Alyssa, Robert LaFlamme, Nathan LaFlamme and his wife, Tara, Ashley Desmarais, Brad Desmarais, Katie Cervone and her husband, Brian, and Steven Lemoine; his four cherished great-grandchildren who were the apple of his eye, Malek Sabri, Shakur Sabri, Andre LaFlamme and Peyton LaFlamme; his dear brothers and sisters, Francis X. Desmarais, Jr. and his wife, Doris of Chicopee, Gertrude Voss of Vero Beach, FL, Roger H. Desmarais of Des Moines, IA, Rose Lamontagne and her husband, Roger of Fort Pierce, FL, Eileen Gosselin and Joan LeBlanc and her husband, Normand, all of Vero Beach, FL; and his many dear nephews and nieces. Besides his parents, he was also predeceased by his dear sister, Agnes Desmarais. His relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, December 29, 2012 at 10 a.m. in Sainte Rose de Lima Church, 600 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. Navy Military Honors will follow the Mass of Christian Burial. His burial will be private at the convenience of his family. For his family members and friends in Hawley, there will be a second Mass of Christian Burial on Monday, December 31, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. in Saint Christopher Mission Church, 180 Main Street, Charlemont, MA 01339. There are no visiting hours. His funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the St. Pierre-Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his memory to the Ashfield Rod & Gun Club Youth Fund, PO Box 326, Ashfield, MA 01330, or the Saint Christopher Mission Church Maintenance Fund, 34 Monroe Avenue, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370 or the Hospice of Franklin County, Inc., 329 Conway Street, Suite 2, Greenfield, MA 01310. For more details, please visit:www.stpierrephaneuf.com