Raymond Wilfred Fournier

BANGOR, MAINE: Raymond Wilfred Fournier (Aug. 3, 1926 - March 29, 2025) was born in Long Pond, ME, and was the third child of Ivan and Florence Rancourt Fournier.

Ray was the last surviving member of the Class of 1944, Jackman, ME. Ray was a World War II Veteran who served in the Armored Corps HHQT as a Corporal T-5, training as a tank driver and served as a Typist/Clerk doing discharge papers for fellow servicemen. After the war, he used his GI bill to attend Husson University where he earned an Associate Degree. Raymond lived with the Husson family during his college years and until his passing, was the oldest living alumni of Husson University. He took great pride in this distinction, and would question each health care professional at the VA Home to see if they also were a Husson alum.

Ray was employed in the accounting department of Getchell Brothers Inc. for 38 years and was caretaker of the Cassidy Mausoleum for over 40 years. He was a long time member of Penobscot County Conservation Association, the American Legion, and The Road Knights - a family-oriented motorcycle club. Ray enjoyed driving his white, BMW motorcycle and his trips to Laconia, NH on it. He was also a member of the Bangor Junior Chamber of Commerce and he served as State Secretary in 1956. For over 50 years, Ray was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Bangor where he served on the vestry and was a Sunday school teacher for many years. He was also a long-time election warden at the Bangor Auditorium polling location.

In 1960, his family spent weekends sleeping in their Rambler or tenting at Beech Hill Pond in Otis, ME. while Raymond built the family A-frame camp where they enjoyed 60 summers on the lake. Raymond also enjoyed hunting in Oxbow, ME for partridge and deer. On one moose hunting trip in Allagash, ME, at the age of 83, he enthusiastically slept in an SUV to be ready for calling moose at the crack of dawn. His most enjoyable activity was gardening - flowers and vegetables. Even in the Veteran's home, he grew lettuce and tomato plants and was able to have fresh salads right up until his passing. He frequently gave away Egyptian Walking onions to anyone who would take them. Raymond, even at the age of 98 1/2, had an incredible memory for names, dates, and stories.

He is survived by his wife of 75 years Virginia H. Fournier, his son Allen I. Fournier and wife, Lynn of Hampden, ME, and daughter Rae Fournier-Wren, and husband Jeffrey of Old Town and Jackman, ME. He is also survived by his sister, Rena Parent of Jackman, ME & Frederick, MD, his sister-in-law, Joyce Hollis of Bangor, sister-in-law June Fournier of Garfield, ME, and sisterin-law Annette Fournier of Bangor; his five grandchildren Jeffrey A. Fournier and wife, Tatiana, Stacey Roy and husband, Chris, Joni Fournier, Morgan Wren and husband Jordan Marden, and Jamie Wren and husband Thomas Mitchell. Raymond had seven great grand children, Kaelan, Ayden, Katya, Brady, Zach, Tyler, and Madison. He is survived by many special nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and siblings Ronald, Reginald, baby Rudy, and Rudolph Fournier, brother-in-law Ernest Parent and sister-in-law, Elizabeth Hartt. Raymond was also predeceased by his business partner of Newton & Roscoe Enterprises, John F. Cassidy II of Hampden, ME. Together they participated in many Friendship Sloop Races sailing the Hold Tight built by Jarvis Newman. The family would like to extend their sincere thanks to the many wonderful staff of the Maine Veteran's Home for their excellent care of Ray during the last few months of his life. Also, many thanks for all the cards and visits extended to Ray from friends, family, and acquaintances.

A funeral service for Raymond will be held 11:00 am Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at St. John's Episcopal Church, 225 French St. Bangor. Private burial will be at Pine Grove Cemetery, Bangor.

Please make a donation in Ray's name to the Penobscot County Conservation Association- 570 North Main St., Brewer, ME 04412, or online at pccamaine.org.

Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.