James J. Cormier, 96, of Haverhill, died January 10, 2017 at Holy Family at Merrimack Valley Hospital in Haverhill, following a brief illness.

Born in Lowell, son of the late Francis and Evangeline (Boudreau) Cormier, he moved to Haverhill as a child and attended Saint Joseph Grammar School. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during W.W.II as a Private First Class in the 2071^st Quartermaster Corps. He was a recipient of the Good Conduct Medal, The Distinguished Unit Badge and the Asiatic Pacific Theater Campaign Ribbon with 2 Service Stars. While stationed in Australia, he met and married his wife of seventy years Olive Maker.

After his discharge from the service, he returned to Queensland, Australia and managed a racing stable for jockeys and trainers and also found employment as an insurance salesman. He returned with his family to the United States in 1953, and established Kentucky Farm in Haverhill where he raised and trained thoroughbred horses that he raced at Rockingham Park in Salem. He also was a sales representative and district manager for Boston Mutual Co. and later was employed by Prudential Insurance Co. Following his retirement, he worked for an additional thirty-five years at Demoulas Market Basket Store in Haverhill until a year ago.

A member of All Saints Parish and the former Saint Joseph Parish, he was also a member of the National Association of the Disabled American Veterans and the Hannah Duston Chapter.  He had a gift for vegetable gardening, especially the tomatoes that he lovingly raised and shared with family and friends.

He was predeceased by his wife Olive (Maker) Cormier, and will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sons and daughters-in-law James J. and Anne Cormier of Shaftsbury, VT. Dr. Robert T and Patricia Cormier of Duluth, MN and Andre P. Cormier of Haverhill, a brother Frank Cormier of Haverhill, six, grandchildren, Jake, Sarah, Katherine, Jesse, Nate and Maria, and fourteen Great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral service with military honors to be held on Friday, January 13, 2017 at 1 p.m.at the State Veterans Cemetery, Winchendon, MA. Donations may be made to All Saints Parish 120 Bellevue Avenue, Haverhill. Arrangements are under the direction of BERUBE-Comeau Funeral Home, 47 Broadway, Haverhill. To send a message of Condolence to the family, please visit www.berubecomeau.com.