John Louis Fournier Jr.

time in his life.

The esteemed publisher of The Prosser Record-Bulletin and Grandview Herald as

well as former publisher of many weekly and three daily newspapers including the

North Central Washington and Central Oregon Nickel Ads, the Valley Daily News

in Kent passed away in hospice near his home of Freeland, Whidbey Island, WA

after a five month battle with cancer. He was 75.

He will be remembered by his wife Chris, children Suzette Nordstrom (Bill) of

Spokane, WA, John L. III (Lucinda) of Bend, OR, Danielle of Freeland, WA and

Matthew of Sacramento, CA as a man of vision, humor and fortitude. He was as

committed to his communities as he was to his family. He is survived by his

stepmother Jean Morgan (Jimmy) of Swainsboro, GA, sister Gail Dallas of

Redmond, WA and brother Charles (Gay) of Saint Simon’s Island, GA. He is

survived by eight nieces and nephews.

Fournier was a loving father who taught his children to revere the outdoors, respect

other people’s opinions, and foster good will wherever they went. He infused every

situation with his sense of humor and ability to tell a great story- anytime,

anywhere.

Fournier remarried the love of his life, Christine, in 2005 after which they devoted

their time of the semi-retired life of reveling in their grandchildren Angela, Emily,

TJ and Chas while catching up on their years spent apart. The two had remained

friends throughout the years as they raised their children and kept partnerships in

several national champion snaffle bit horses.

As publisher, Fournier was proud to serve his birthplace of Kent by bringing Medic

One to Valley General Hospital, as a member of Kiwanis, the city council and its

committees, and the Chamber of Commerce. On the state level, he had a lifelong

commitment to the Washington State Newspaper Association, as a trustee, past

president and active member from whom he received the Miles Turnbull Master

Editor/Publisher lifetime achievement award. He was also a member of the

National Newspaper and Suburban Newspaper Associations of America. He

developed his love of hot air ballooning when he became a yearly sponsor of the

Prosser Hot Air Balloon Rally upon purchasing the paper there in 1986. He

dedicated over fifty years of his life to the newspaper business.

Born March 23, 1937 in Kent Washington, he felt a lifelong attachment to his

birthplace. His early life as a Boy Scout, a Kent Meridian High School varsity

football player, and a member of the United States Marine Corps influenced

Fournier’s lifelong interest in the outdoors, sports and civic responsibilities. He

loved to fish, possessed a mean roll cast, and spent his life on or near the water. He

shared fond memories of pheasant and duck hunting in the Green River Valley and

across the plains of the Palouse often. While attending University of Washington as

a Sigma Phi Epsilon brother, he enjoyed his summers as a lifeguard on Lake

Washington. Until his death, he would look up to identify any aircraft by wing

shape and sound, recounting his many miles across the sky.

He will be missed.