Leigh B. Larocque, Old Silo Road, Barnet passed away Sunday,
March 26th at his home surrounded by his loving wife and eight
children, following over a year long valiant struggle.
He was born in Browington, VT March 6, 1934 to the late
Donald and Beatrice (Labor) Larocque. Leigh is predeceased by
11 siblings, including two sets of twins (1 set died at birth). He
is survived by Dale Kendall of Barnet who lived with Leigh's
parents after he lost both parents at a young age. He was a
part of the large family and has always been like another brother.
Leigh attended graded schools in Barnet and graduated from
St. Johnsbury Trade School in 1952. Two years later he
married his high school sweetheart, Beverly Goodwin of East.
St. Johnsbury. They started their married life together working
on Leigh's parents' farm in Barnet. Beverly worked at
Fairbanks Scales in St. Johnsbury.
Hard times in the farming business forced Leigh to go to work
as an inspector on the Moore Dam Construction Project in
Littleton, N.H., later the St. Lawrence Seaway in Massena, NY,
and then the Niagara Power Project in Niagara Falls, NY.
The family moved back to Barnet in 1962 purchasing half of the
family farm and Leigh worked with his parents for the next few
years and eventually purchased the 2nd part of the farm when
his parents retired to spend their winters in Florida.
After selling the stock and equipment in 1986 and the farm in
1988, Leigh & Beverly retained acreage on the upper part of the
farm (currently Old Silo Rd.) to be divided into building lots for
all of their children who chose to make their homes there and raise their families.
He then worked for Charles Fenoff and later Ron Fenoff
operating the Fenoff Redi-Mix Concrete Plant in Waterford until
the Fenoffs sold the business. He subsequently worked for
Construction Material Testing out of Whitefield, N.H. for several
years and one year for his son Shannon at Foresite Engineering
before retiring in 2004.
He served on the Barnet Select Board for 12 years, receiving
recognition for his outstanding service. Also a member of
Northeast Vermont Development Association for many years,
and a member of the St. Johnsbury Academy Alumni Council up
to the present time. He was awarded the Vt. League of
Citizen's & Towns Legislative Service Award in 2001.
He was a lifetime member of the Loyal Order of Moose #1779
earning the Pilgrim degree, a member of the West Barnet
Lakeview Grange who chose to honor him as their 2015 "Citizen
of the Year" award, and later honored by the Caledonia County
Republican Committee with a banquet held at the Loyal Order
of Moose attended by many of his former colleagues in the
Vermont House and many local supporters for his 20 years of
service representing Barnet, Ryegate and Waterford.
Leigh is survived by his wife: Beverly Larocque of Barnet VT; 4
sons: Steven Larocque of Barnet, VT, Scott Laroque (Robin) of
Lyndonville, VT, Shawn Larocque of Barnet, VT, and Shannon
(Sylvia Bedor) of Barnet, VT; 4 daughters: Sylvia Laferriere
(Paul) of Barnet, VT, Sandra Garand of Barnet, VT, Sheila Bean
(Kenneth) of Passumpsic, VT, and Michelle Mitchell (Mark) of
Barnet, VT; 1 brother: Dale Kendall of Barnet, VT; 19
grandchildren: Jason, Ryan, Malcolm, Andrew, Olivia, Brooke,
Dillion, Ben, Jenn, Michael, Joseph, Nicholas, Nathan, Jeff,
Shauna, Amanda, Courtney, Emma, and Grace; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Calling hours will be held Friday, March 31, 2017 from 2-4 p.m.
and from 6-8 p.m. at Sayles Funeral Home, 525 Summer St.,
St. Johnsbury, followed by a prayer service at 8 p.m. officiated by Rev. Ann Hockridge.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be earmarked for either a
Barnet School memorial fund (c/o Shawn Gonyaw, Barnet
School, 163 Kid Row, Barnet, VT 05821) or towards the
construction in the Spring of a Memorial Gazebo at the
Larocque family cemetery (c/o Beverly Larocque, 1879 Old Silo Road, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819).
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