Clinton M. Gaouette

Seekonk - Clinton M. Gaouette, 92, passed away on Monday, August 21, 2023. He was the beloved husband of Dorothy L. (Bailey) Gaouette for seventy-one loving years. He resided in Attleboro before moving to Seekonk forty-two years ago. Clint was born at Pawtucket Memorial Hospital to the late Leo Gaouette and Rosanna (Robitaille) Myette. He was the first child in his family to be born in a hospital, so his mother named his middle name after the hospital. His family was living on Clinton Street at the time so that became his first name. His parents liked nicknames and he was called “Sonny” right up until he was married. Clint had three brothers and two sisters. His family moved around a lot so he had lived in both South Attleboro and Pawtucket. He left school when he was in St. Cecilia’s to go to work for his father, who was a painter. He worked in braid shops, wire shops and jewelry shops for short periods of time, he then turned to the trade of painting as a permanent job. He met and married his wife, Dorothy, after a two year courtship. They had one baby (Catherine) and another on the way when he went into the Army. Clint was a United States Korean War veteran. After boot camp, a 2nd child (Barbara) was born and then he was shipped to Okinawa, to serve his country. Clint loved babies and he loved playing with them. He didn’t have much free time because he worked as a painter for his grandfather in the Union Trust Building in Providence from early morning until late at night. But on weekends, he would take them to the park. The family grew with the addition of two more girls, Nina and Joyce and then Clinton, Jr. (who died a five months old), Paul, and Christine (who died at birth). He loved playing jacks and cards with them. He worked at Wheaton College for over thirty years until retiring. After his retirement he was employed at Willow Tree for four years. He was a hard worker and at times a “workaholic”. Clint wasn’t a vacationer or a hobbyist, but he did some traveling and learned how to bowl and play golf. But still, pride in his work took precedent over any free time he had. He was just “Pa” to his grandchildren, and of course the baby was always the pet, but he would do anything for anyone in the family. Clint liked to sing and had a good voice. He sang in the church choir and with the Cumberland Lincoln Chorus. He also liked to sing solos as well as with his family. He was also in charge of the fund raiser that purchased the organ for the church and he kept with that project until finished. He painted the sanctuary at that time, and also chose the grand piano that the Lawton Fund purchased. Besides his wife, he leaves three daughters, Barbara A. Harkins and her husband, Dudley, Nina R. Shepard and her husband, Gerald, and Joyce M. Gaouette; a son, Paul P. Gaouette and his wife, Christine, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was the father of the late Cathy J. Grant and the grandfather of the late Christopher R. Grant. Services will be held on Friday, August 25, 2023 at 10 a.m. at Memorial Baptist Church, 340 Central Ave., Seekonk. Interment will follow at Newell Burying Ground, South Attleboro. VISITATION will be on Thursday, August 24, 2023 from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at WILLIAM W. TRIPP Funeral Home, 1008 Newport Ave., Pawtucket. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts to Lions International, 300 West 22nd Street, Oak Brook, IL 60523-8842 or online at: lionsclubs would be appreciated. TRIPPFUNERALHOME.com

Clinton M. Gaouette

August 14, 1931 - August 21, 2023