Roy Joseph Fortin

SHELDON SPRINGS – Roy J. Fortin, age 88, passed away on Thursday, December 25, 2025 at St. Albans Health & Rehab.

Roy was born in Sheldon Springs on June 2, 1937, to the late Ernest & Mary (Donahue) Fortin.

Roy was a life-long resident of Sheldon Springs, VT. Having lost both of his parents by the age of 14, he lived with his brother Ralph, sister-in-law Lucille and their children whom he considered more like siblings. Jim, David, Carolyn, Cynthia, and Susan. Upon completing a hitch in the U.S Air Force, where he was stationed in Japan, Roy began working at the pulp mill in Sheldon Springs. He was there for 46 years through the ownership of Boise Cascade, Missisquoi Paper Mill, and Rock Tenn Paper Mill. He even served as Vice President of the Union for several years.

Roy enjoyed waterfowl hunting, deer hunting, fishing, and shooting skeet. He was an excellent skeet shooter and was the club champion of the Sportsmen Club of Franklin County for 4-5 years running. He made lifelong friendships through skeet shooting. He taught both of his sons, Russell, and Douglas the tricks of running a hundred straight, a feat not many accomplished shooters could claim. He shot with and against shooters from Vermont clubs, New York clubs, Montreal clubs and several other states. He won many competitions and placed well in state shoots. Roy was a member of the American Legion Post #42, Sportsman's Club of Franklin County, lifetime member of the Missisquoi Valley Sportsman's Club and was a high degree Mason.

Roy’s family meant the world to him. He enjoyed watching his two grandsons’ football games, which brought him immense pride and joy. He could often be found on the sidelines, cheering them on. Roy's wife Gyneth Fortin predeceased him in September of 2018, leaving a hole that he never could recover from. Their love for each other was unconditional.

He is survived by his sons and their wives whom he had a special bond with, Russell Fortin and his wife Anne Marie, and Douglas Fortin and his wife Laurie; grandchildren, Alanah Peters and her husband David, Harliss Fortin and his wife Jackie, and Jessie Fortin and his companion Ashley Feely; great grandchildren, Everette, Elliot, Emitt and Dawson Fortin, and Brett, Westyn, and Haleigh Marie Peters; and several nieces & nephews. In addition to his parents, Roy was predeceased by his wife, Gyneth (Garrett) Fortin, and his brother, Ralph Fortin.

Roy touched many lives and could often be seen getting coffee at the local stores in Sheldon Springs. Our family would like to thank all of you for your kindness, especially Heather Durkee and her crew, his wonderful neighbors, Leo and Carol Teague, and Tommy and Robin Gale – without you folks, he couldn't have stayed at his home as long as he did. Also, Roy’s family would like to thank the staff from St. Albans Health & Rehab for their care and kindness.

Friends & family are invited to Roy’s life celebration to include visitation from 4-7:00 PM on Friday, January 2, 2026 at the Goss-Spears Life Celebration Home, 96 Dickinson Avenue, Enosburg Falls, VT. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 3, 2026 at the Goss-Spears Life Celebration Home. Interment will be held this spring in the Sheldon Village Cemetery.

For those who wish, contributions in Roy's memory may be made to the Missisquoi Valley Sportsman’s Club, P.O. Box 636, Enosburg Falls, VT 05450.

Condolences, photos and favorite memories may be shared through www.gossfs.com