LI hiker fixture in Fire Island community

He was a fixture in the close-knit Cherry Grove community of Fire Island, known for his landscaping skills, beautiful singing voice and an ability to connect with both newcomers and longtime residents.

Michael Guerette, 51, died doing what he loved: being "one with nature," said his best friend Brett Roper, who recalled that Guerette once told him, "If anything ever happens to me, be happy because I am doing what I wanted to do."

On Friday, Guerette's body was found on the Appalachian Trail in Carrying Place Township in northern Franklin County, Maine. Guerette had been hiking alone for two weeks, starting in Virginia, and was about 160 miles into his journey. An autopsy is being done to determine how he died.

Those who knew Guerette well describe him as a naturalist who loved everything about the earth -- its soil and the plants and flowers it produced. For about 17 years, he ran Garden Grove, a flower shop that once greeted visitors with an artful display of sunflowers, roses and lush green plants.

Tuesday, all that stood in front of the shop were red, white, pink and purple gladiolas, about two dozen roses, a sunflower and a starfish that had been placed there as a memorial. Three photos of him were also displayed.

At the Cherry Grove Fire Department, a flag flew at half staff and purple-and-black bunting draped over the firehouse in honor of Guerette, a longtime volunteer firefighter.

"Many times [he was] the first and only response in the winter time," said local resident C.J. Mingolelli. There will be a memorial service for him at the firehouse on Sept. 24.

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"The entire town is in mourning," said Roper, 43, owner of Floyd's, a breakfast and brunch cafe located across from Guerette's shop. "He was a big part of this town as it was developing. He was that bridge of the old community and he knew the newcomers." Guerette, originally from Portsmouth, N.H., and the oldest of four brothers, was estranged from his own family, Roper said, but the community took him in as part of theirs.

Like Roper, Guerette was one of a handful of year-round residents. "We'd spend half our winters just keeping warm. It makes you appreciate the simpleness of what's important in life," Roper said. "Michael was able to reduce life to an even simpler form."

Friends said Guerette was talking about starting an organic farm in Puerto Rico, and he closed Garden Grove two seasons ago. He started his hike in June, returned in July to attend a concert with Roper, and then resumed his hike.

Close friend Diane Romano, 61, a summer Cherry Grove resident who said she considered Guerette to be her son, said she last heard from him Aug. 11, the day before he was found.

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Guerette emailed Romano at 8:10 a.m. from Caratunk, Maine, saying all was well.

"Have not had phone reception since last I spoke to you," he wrote. "Should get better as I move into higher elevations over the next couple of weeks. Hope you are well. Miss everyone terribly but am having an awesome experience."

With Candice Ruud