Orley Eber Rafuse
1943-2020
Orley Eber Rafuse – age 77, of New Ross passed away
peacefully on Friday, January 10, 2020 in the Valley Regional
Hospital, Kentville. Born on May 30, 1943 in New Ross, he was a son of
the late Charles Delmar Rafuse and Gladys May (Legge) Rafuse. Orley
lived his entire life in New Ross on the family homestead and made
many friends, wherever he went. When asked about his occupation, Orley
simply replied that he was a “Jack of all trades and a master of
none”. He had a passion for heavy equipment and at a very young
age was driving his father’s log truck and dump truck. He
soon met the love of his life, Lorraine (Rines) and they were happily
married for 55 years. Together they worked side by side to
build Orley Rafuse Trucking and Backhoe Limited. While Orley was
greeting customers and running equipment,. Lorraine was busy at home
answering calls, picking up parts and running the office. At first,
Orley worked for his father running the family farm and trucking
gravel and pulpwood. After his father became ill, Orley acquired more
construction equipment and branched out. He was contracted by Minas
Basin Pulp and Paper for 27 years and had many employed with logging
and Christmas trees. As time went on Orley spent more of his time
doing backhoe and excavation work and this became his main focus. He
spent long hours, from daylight to dark running the equipment and
often worked well into the night, repairing his gear so his crew could
work the next day. During the winter months, he was often seen before
daybreak, clearing snow for the local school and various businesses in
the community. He always felt that retirement wasn’t for
him, so he continued with the help of his longtime employees, Gerhart
Lenihan ran the log trucks for Orley for 50 years and Llewelyn Lenihan
ran the excavating equipment for the last 16 years. Both of these men
were more like brothers to Orley and not just employees. In
Orley’s spare time, he enjoyed quiet time spent at home with
family, puzzles, coffee with the guys, travelling and he always took a
keen interest in any piece of equipment he may have encountered.
Orley’s daughter, Heather always had a special place in his
heart and her husband, Mike was the son he never had. Orley was
blessed with two grandsons, Caleb and Corbin and they were the apples
of his eye. Orley was a member of the Lunenburg Trucker’s
Association, the Lunenburg County Christmas Tree Association, was a
Trustee of Mill Road Baptist Church and the Baptist Cemetery and
served various other Trade Associations. Orley was predeceased by his
brother, Chesley Rafuse, a daughter, Annette and a niece, Brenda Lee.
Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m.
until the time of the funeral service at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday,
January 15, 2020 in the White Family Funeral Home, Kentville, Pastor
David Hine officiating. A reception will follow in the funeral home
reception room. A private family burial will take place in the New
Ross Baptist Cemetery. Donations in memory may be made to New Ross
Volunteer Fire Department or to a charity of your choice. Funeral
arrangements have been entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home and
Cremation Services, Kentville.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Orley Eber Rafuse 19432020..
Death notice for the town of: Kentville, Province: Nova Scotia