Leigh Larocque

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).

Memories and condolences may be shared at www.saylesfh.com.