Salem: Jean Paul “Butch” Boucher age 88 of Salem, died Monday morning at the Blueberry Hill Healthcare in Beverly. He was the husband of the late Margaret D. (Gagnon) Boucher. Born in Canada and raised in Salem, he was the son of the late Octave and Mary Louise (Paquet) Boucher.
As a young man he worked in the former Pequot Mills of Salem until the beginning of World War II. He enlisted in the Army and served in Europe with the 660th Field Artillery Battalion. Following the war he returned to Salem where he and Margaret were married in 1946. He returned to the Pequot Mills and remained until the closing. For the next 30 years Mr. Boucher was foreman of maintenance for the United Shoe Machinery Corp. research department in Beverly. With the closing of the United Shoe, he went to Hood Yacht Systems in Marblehead, until his retirement in 1984. He was a member of the former St. Joseph Parish of Salem, and life member of the Palmer Cove Yacht Club of Salem and was an avid fisherman from a very early age.
He is survived by 2 daughters: Linda J. Purdy and her husband Donald of Beverly, Nan Valaskatgis and her husband Paul of Salem, a son: Roger P. Boucher and his wife Mary Beth of Salem, 4 brothers: Edgar, Jean-Marie, Raymond & Richard Boucher all of Salem, 3 sisters: Madeleine Michaud & Noella LaChance both of Salem, Irene Provost of Danvers, 6 grandchildren: David & Doria Purdy, Brian Boucher and his fiancée Kristen Grocki, Alex Boucher, Nicole & Athan Valaskatgis. Mr. Boucher is also survived by his best friend Zoe and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by 2 brothers: George & Martial Boucher.
Relatives and friends are invited to his funeral on Friday at 8 am from the Levesque Funeral Home, 163 Lafayette St., Salem [Rt. 114 / 1-A] followed by his funeral mass in Ste. Anne Church, Salem at 9 am. Visiting hours: Thursday 2 to 4 & 7 to 9 pm. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice. For more information please visit www.levesquefunerals.com.