Roger O. Fournier

Roger O. Fournier of Copake, NY passed away on Monday, April 6, 2020.  He was 89 and one of those admirably tough people who comes from a farming life on the cold Canadian border of Vermont.  He would sometimes talk about his childhood on the farm with his siblings – many of whom are still with us.  It sounded like a little corner of heaven when he would muse about the enormous bounty derived from their seemingly endless work -milk, maple syrup, beef, pork, every living thing the earth would yield - and the mischief those kids would get up to around the place.  What that life ingrained in him was the lesson he passed on to all of his children that to thrive, you have to work - and work hard.  Roger was the kind of guy who was out splitting wood with gusto until very recently and, though we all marveled at the drive that would keep him busily cutting and meticulously stacking, it was decided that taking that away from him would have hastened his end far sooner than just letting him go.  So on he went.

Roger had one of those rare types of genius where, if he stood back and studied something long enough, he could build it, make it run, or simply reverse engineer the darn thing, all while whistling Red River Valley.  He could run wiring and plumbing and every socket and faucet would yield up whatever was asked.  This lent itself extremely well to his life-long professions of farming, electrical work, and construction.

If there was one area of pure enjoyment in his life, it was the tractor pull.  As a Farmall man, he was very conspicuous rolling off the trailer with that bright red paint on show…and the man would win!  His garage workshop was covered in trophies and ribbons from the countless pulls he participated in over the years.  Being out there competing against his friends and his brother, Leonard, then “throwing the bull around” afterward brought him endless amusement.

Roger is survived by his wife, Jeanette Nault Fournier, and multiple children and their spouses who, though not blood relatives, might as well be after all these years:  Ed Fournier and Pam Waite, Debbie and Dave Hall, Karen and Martin Clough, Donna and Sam Gorusso ,and Jacki and Chuck Hooker.  He is predeceased by a daughter, Priscilla McLoud. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Missy Fournier, Michael McLoud, Eryn and Eric Clough, and Sarah Jane and Will Hooker.  In addition to these, his siblings who are still with us are Leonard Fournier of Copake, NY, Rita Deslandes of Troy, VT, Evelyn Meunier of Pawling, NY, Paul Fournier of Irasburg, VT, Gerard Fournier of Bethlehem, NH, and Dennis Fournier of Westfield, VT.

Due to the current restrictions on gatherings services will be held for only immediate family. An event to commemorate our dad’s life will be planned for later this year.

Arrangements are with the Peck and Peck Funeral Home of Copake, NY

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