Peter L. Bourcy

CLAYTON, N.Y. - Peter L. Bourcy, 85, Route 12E, passed away Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 5, under the care of his family and Hospice of Jefferson County.

Calling hours will be held 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, at Cummings Funeral Service, Inc., Clayton. Burial will be 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9, in St. Lawrence Cemetery, town of Cape Vincent..

Born May 31, 1927, in Watertown, a son of Floyd A. and Frances Loftus Bourcy, he graduated from Watertown High School and during Word War II attended Rutgers University under the Army Specialized Training Program. He served on active duty with the US Army Sea Rescue Detachment under the Air Transport Command.

He married Shirley J. Thibault on Sept. 9, 1950, in St. Mary's Church, Clayton with Rev. George Racette officiating. Shirley passed away Dec. 11, 2003.

Peter was employed by New York Telephone Co. for 39 years, serving the Thousand Islands, Clayton, LaFargeville, and Alexandria Bay exchanges. In 1949, he phased out the wooden crank telephones in the Clayton rural area. In 1956, he installed the first telephones on Grindstone Island and the smaller surrounding islands. He assisted in the 1960 cutover of the Clayton exchange from manual to dial and the following year did Alexandria Bay. Peter was the last man in the NY Telephone Co. to have the job title of combinationman.

Mr. Bourcy was a lifetime member of the Telephone Pioneers of American, past president of the Clayton Rotary Club, and a 48 year member of the American Legion Post 821 in Clayton.

Pete was an avid flower and vegetable gardener. He also spent over 40 years in his woods cutting trees to feed the wood furnace during the five cold months of the year.

He enjoyed a competitive game of croquet and took on any challengers. Upon retirement, he worked 25 years as a volunteer for the Thousand Islands Museum. His specialty was the "Decoy and Wild Life Art Show". He put together the floor plan for the show, the Art Knapp Hunting Decoy contest, and the live auction.

Surviving are his two daughters and two sons, Christine A. Bourcy, Clayton, Lorraine and Gawaine Ward, Alexandria Bay, David A. Bourcy, Clayton, and Michael J. and Elizabeth Bourcy, Dexter; 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; two sisters and two brothers, Katherine A. Bourcy Thomas, Albuquerque, N.M., Sally Converse, Phoenix, Ariz., James E. and Mary Jean Farrell Bourcy, Denver, Colo., and Neil and Barbara Spink Bourcy, Fayetteville; a sister-in-law, Lucille Breed Bourcy, Fairfax, Va.; and several nieces and nephews.

Besides his wife, Shirley, he was predeceased by his parents, and brother, Col;. Robert A. Bourcy.

Donations may be made to T.I.E.R. S., P.O. Box 524, Clayton, NY 13624, Hospice of Jefferson County, 1398 Gotham St., Watertown, NY 13601. or to a charity of your choice.

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