Edward A. Fuhr, 83, Colton

COLTON – A Celebration of Life service for Edward A. Fuhr, 83, a resident of 58 Fuhr Road, Colton, will be held on Monday, October 5, 2026 at 3 p.m. at the Buck Funeral Home in Colton. Family and friends may call at the Buck Funeral Home in Colton on Monday from 12 noon until the time of the service. Burial will be held in the Pleasant Mound Cemetery at a later date. A luncheon will be held at the Colton Fire Station following the service. Ed passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, September 28, 2026 with his wife and daughter at his side.

Ed was born on May 17, 1943, in Potsdam to Marian Spotswood and Albert Fuhr. He spent the early years of his life at the Hollywood Dude Ranch on the Raquette River, where Carry Falls is now. The Ranch and surrounding countryside shaped his life going forward, and left an emptiness as he watched the forests burn that he never fully recovered from. His work ethic was created by working from his early years at the Dude Ranch through college, teaching riding at summer camps in the Adirondacks and working at horse farms and race tracks, where he earned a trainer’s license while in college. He loved Higley, the water, the deer who stopped by, as well as the rabbits and other animals. He adored his Maine Coon cats, Adirondack DeeDee and Chucka, and he loved his family and close friends.

Ed graduated from high school at Colton-Pierrepont, attended classes at SLU before graduating from Canton ATC and subsequently the University of Georgia with a degree in microbiology. He taught General Science, Earth Science and Biology at St. Joseph’s Academy in Malone until its closure. He operated a small marina on Higley Flow for a few years, where many young people first learned to waterski. He then worked for the Adirondack Railroad, leading up to, during, and after the 1980 Winter Olympics, where he served as Mechanical Services Foreman and train conductor. Following the closure of the railroad he was offered a position by the general manager to be a heavy equipment operator at an aggregate operation in Montgomeryville, PA. The plant was sold three years later to what would become Graymont Materials. While at Graymont, he was offered the position of Safety Officer. He retired in 2014 after 30 years with the company.

He served on the Environmental Management Council, and as its president for several years, the St. Lawrence County Planning Board, past chair of the Colton Planning Board, Board member and past chair of the Friends of Higley Flow State Park, past Higley Association Board member, Pleasant Mound Cemetery Association VP, and a member of the Potsdam Lodge of Elks. Ed’s passion over the last three decades was the development of winter recreation, specifically cross country skiing at Higley Flow State Park. He devoted countless hours to all things related to grooming: obtaining a lodge for skiers to warm up in, a building in which to house equipment, grooming equipment, trail improvements and grooming.

He is succeeded by his wife of 56 years, Judy Fuhr, his daughter, Mary Kay Rush and Woody Sniffen, grandsons Bryce Rush, Brody Rush and fiancé Savannah; brother-in-law Kerry Oakes, sister-in-law Sherry and Bob Parent. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Friends of Higley Flow State Park, P.O Box 249, Colton, N.Y. 13625, on their website; or to the Pleasant Mound Cemetery Association and memories and condolences may be shared online at www.buckfuneralhome.com.

The Buck Funeral Home in Colton is serving the family of Edward A. Fuhr.