HERKIMER - Seymour E. Coutant, age 86, of Ronald Street, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, April 21, 2001 in Bassett Healthcare, Cooperstown. He was born on December 26, 1914, in Bloomington, town of Rosendale, Ulster County, NY, son of the late Ennis S. and Gertrude D. Niebergall Coutant. Seymour was raised and educated in Kingston, NY where his ancestors were the original settlers to the area. He furthered his education by attending the College of Forestry at Syracuse University; he graduated in 1939 with a Bachelors Degree of Science in Forestry. On May 31, 1941 he married Natalie Durose in New York City. They have resided in Herkimer since 1951. He was employed as a Professional Forester by the U.S. Forest Service, United States Army Corp. of Engineers, and the Department of Environmental Sciences of the State of New York, retiring in 1980 after having served as Regional Forester in Herkimer and Oneida Counties. An honorably discharged US Army veteran he served in both World War II and Korea. In World War II he served in the 10th Mountain Division as an officer with the 1001st Forestry Battalion in Germany attached to the SHAF Headquarters. In 1941 he became an original member of the US Army Ski Patrol, training in Old Forge, NY and Mount Ranier, Washington and took part in the formation of its' 10th Mountain Division at Camp Hale, Colorado. In 1951 he was recalled to active duty for the Korean Conflict and was stationed with the Post Engineer Office at Camp Pickett, VA. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Herkimer, the Society of American Foresters, Herkimer Lodge No. 1439 B.P.O.E., the Mohawk Valley Country Club, the Ulster County Genealogical Society and the General Herkimer B.S.A. Camp Russell at Woodgate. Mr. Coutant was actively engaged in conservation education since 1978 at the Forestry Recreation Facilities in Herkimer and Oneida Counties, its parks, campsites, and historical sites. He was also actively involved in genealogy work from his own home. Surviving besides his loving wife of 59 years Natalie are two sons, John E. and his wife Elizabeth Coutant of Ringoes, NJ, Richard A. and his wife Kendi Coutant of Apex, NC; one sister; Frieda Budman of Oklahoma City, OK; five grandchildren, David E. Coutant of Indianapolis, IN and Michael A. Coutant of Columbus, OH, Zachary, Max and Madeline Coutant of Apex, NC, several nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be on Wednesday at 10:00 AM in the First United Methodist Church Herkimer with the Reverend David Oertel officiating. Interment will take place in Pleasant View Cemetery, Ludlow, VT at a later time convenient to the family. The family will be present to receive relatives and friends in Fenner Funeral Home, Inc., 115 Court Street, Herkimer, on Tuesday from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. As an alternative to floral bouquets Seymour expressed that those who wish "Observe Arbor Day and plant a tree for me."