William D. Harnois Obituary

William D. Harnois attended Pentucket Regional High School in West Newbury, MA. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about William D. Harnois.

Graduation Year	Class of 1965
Date of Passing	Feb 08, 2020
About	William D. Harnois, age 72, a West Newbury native, passed at Portsmouth Regional Hospital early Saturday morning, February 8, 2020. Born in Amesbury, May 26, 1947, he was one of seven children of the late John L. and Regina (Gosselin) Harnois and was a graduate of Pentucket Regional High School. Shortly after graduating from high school he was inducted into the United States Army, proudly serving from November 15, 1966 until his honorable discharge on November 7, 1968 as a Specialist 4th Grade. He moved to Ohio in the 1970’s where he did some long haul trucking and gas station repair for a few years, then started a longtime career in funeral service. He worked for the Boyer & Cool Home for Funerals in Lorain, Ohio, until September, 2004, when he decided to return to West Newbury. By December, 2004, he became part of the Paul C. Rogers Family Funeral Homes, working as a licensed funeral service assistant for the next 15 years. “Billy”, as he was known by many, was a hard working man, very conscientious and extremely dedicated. He never shied away from work, it was his driving force, right to the very end. Billy made trips back to Ohio on a regular basis to maintain the friendships he made with the Boyer & Cool family. Unfortunately he never made the trip he had planned for October, 2019. He was a regular at the West Newbury Food Mart, stopping in every morning for coffee and the news about town. From there he would stop by the former Brunault’s Gas Station, to chat with the crew or lend a hand if needed. A true West Newbury “Townie”, Billy was active with the West Newbury Senior Center, was a Volunteer Fireman with the West Newbury Fire Department, and was a longtime communicant of St. Ann’s Church of the Holy Redeemer Parish of West Newbury. He leaves behind his siblings, Paul A. Harnois and wife Peggie of West Newbury, John L. “Jack” Harnois, Jr. and wife Nancy of Sterling, VA, Alice Jones of Athens, TX and Mary Ellen Hubley, recently of Georgetown and former longtime West Newbury resident; along with several generations of nieces and nephews, extended family members, dear friends, and his second family at Rogers Family Funeral Home. Along with his parents, Billy was predeceased by his sister, Alaine M. Harnois on June 21, 2014, and his brother, James R. “Jim” Harnois on June 24, 2019. His parting has left a great void in many hearts, but the memories he has left behind will continue to fill that void because he will never be forgotten by those who knew and loved him so dearly. Visiting hours will be held Wednesday, February 12, 2020 from 3 to 6 P.M. at the Elliott, Woodworth & Rogers Family Funeral Home, 35 Green Street, Newburyport. Springtime services and burial will be private for the family. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in his memory to the West Newbury Senior Center, 381 Main Street, West Newbury, MA 01985.