Arthur J. Fortier Jr.

EXETER -- Arthur "Joe" Joseph Fortier Jr., 78, died April 28, 2008, in Exeter Hospital after a brief illness.

A lifelong resident of Exeter, he was born Aug. 27, 1929, to Arthur J. Fortier Sr. and Annie M. (Denoncour) Fortier.

He graduated from Tuck High School in Exeter in 1947 and served in the U.S. Navy from 1948 to 1952, where he began his 54-year career as a barber.

After a short stint at a barber shop in Hampton, he opened Joe's Barber Shop at 4 Center St. in Exeter in October 1953. Over the years, the shop moved to other locations throughout Exeter before settling at 111 Water St.

A communicant of St. Michael Church in Exeter, he greatly enjoyed working in his vegetable garden and was well known for his luscious tomatoes.

IN HIS LIFE: He is survived by his wife, Olga (Nichypor) Fortier, who he married on July 3, 1955, and visited regularly during the last four years at the Rockingham County Nursing Home in Brentwood; three daughters, Cynthia A. Fortier of Portsmouth, Va., Lisa A. Fortier of Memphis, Tenn., and Nancy A. (and her husband Robert) Batchelder of Exeter; two grandchildren, Brenden and Kaleigh Batchelder of Exeter; two sisters, Sr. Charlotte Ann Fortier of Windham and Beverly A. Hamilton of Hudson; and several nieces and nephews.

SERVICES: Calling hours are Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Brewitt Funeral Home, 14 Pine St., Exeter, NH.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Monday at 10 a.m. in St. Michael Church, corner of Front and Lincoln streets in Exeter.

Private burial with military honors will be in Exeter Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made in his memory to the Rockingham VNA & Hospice, 137 Epping Road, Exeter 03833.

For more information, go to www.brewittfuneralhome.com.