WEBSTER - Joseph A. “Joe” Furey III, 77, of Webster, passed away March 10th, 2026, peacefully in the warmth and comfort of his home, with his daughters by his side after a short illness.
He leaves his daughters, Autumn B. Furey-LeBeau and her husband Justin LeBeau of Webster, and Willow Z. Furey and her husband Todd Calder of Belmont NH; he leaves his brother, Gregory A. Furey and his wife Marguerite “Peggy” of Dudley; his sisters, Lynn M. Helferich of Stratham, NH and Karen J. Furey of Dracut; his nieces and nephews Tina, Sarah, Crystal, Jackie, Kevin and Patrick, and his longtime friend Jack Daniels. He was predeceased by his brother David B. Furey, his sisters Cheryl A. Furey and Michelle M. (Furey) Bilis and by his nephew Joseph M. Janiak.
He was born in Boston on April 6, 1948, a son of Joseph A. Furey Jr. and Lois E. (Bruce) Furey. Residing in Palmer throughout his youth, Joe graduated from Palmer High School in 1966 and went on to graduate from Dean Jr. College in 1968 with an associate’s degree in science.
He joined the United States Marine Corps in 1969 and, upon completing boot camp at Parris Island, was deployed directly to Vietnam. While his official duty during the Vietnam War was that of a Machine Gunner, his exceptional tracking and navigation skills quickly proved invaluable. He served as a Combat Tracker and Point Man, leading his platoon through the dense jungles of Vietnam using only topographical maps. Joe was honorably discharged in 1975 with the rank of Corporal.
Throughout his life, Joe poured his creativity and his work ethic into everything he touched. He began his career as an artist with Atlas Screen Process Company in Webster, later dedicating many years to the corrugated industry with Johnson’s Corrugated in Thompson, CT, and Creative Packaging in Worcester. No matter the job, Joe approached his work with pride, precision, and an artist’s eye.
A true outdoorsman at heart, Joe found his greatest peace in the wilderness—especially among New Hampshire’s White Mountains. He cherished the countless backpacking adventures he shared with his daughters. A skilled survivalist, Joe, carried a deep respect for nature and felt most at home under open skies.
Creatively, he was a remarkable artist whose talents stretched across many mediums. While gifted in all forms, he was especially known for his mastery of oil painting and airbrushing, through which he brought vivid landscapes, striking portraits, and imaginative scenes to life.
In addition to his artistic pursuits, Joe was a dedicated bodybuilder and an accomplished martial artist, proudly earning his black belt in Karate. Though he could be difficult to coax onto a dance floor, once the right song came on—especially Bruce Springsteen or Michael Jackson, he lit up with joy as he showed off his dance moves. His family cherished those rare, bright moments when his love of music broke through his quiet nature.
Joe was also a man who loved stories—whether found in books, in nature, or in music. He passed that appreciation on to his daughters, instilling in them a deep love for James Taylor’s storytelling and the emotional truth woven through his songs.
A lifelong learner and an avid reader, Joe carried a quiet curiosity that shaped the way he saw the world. But, above all else, Joe loved nature—its beauty, its challenges, and the quiet wisdom it offered. The wilderness was not just a place he visited, but truly part of who he was.
And so, on his next journey, he left this life with his favorite farewell: “Are you ready to rock and roll, kids?” In return, we send him off with, “Goodnight all you moonlight ladies, rock a bye Sweet Baby James.”
Services will be held privately and at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the World Wildlife Fund, 1250 24th Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 . Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Scanlon Funeral Service, 38 East Main Street.