Friends and family gather to remember salon shooting victim

To some, she was a bubbly hairstylist who had a knack for putting clients at ease. To others, she was a doting mother whose children were her life.

Hundreds of friends and family members gathered Monday at a tearful service in Los Alamitos to remember Michelle Fournier, 48, who was among those killed Oct. 12 when a gunman opened fire at Salon Meritage in Seal Beach. A stylist at the salon, she was the former wife of Scott Dekraai, who has been charged with eight counts of murder in Orange County’s deadliest shooting rampage.

Fournier and Dekraai had been involved in a custody dispute over their 8-year-old son.

Miles away in Santa Ana, Dekraai, 42, made a brief court appearance Monday. He told Judge Erick L. Larsh that he could not afford legal counsel, and Public Defender Scott Sanders was appointed. An arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 29.

There was no mention of Dekraai at the service in Los Alamitos, where participants wore ribbons and wristbands of teal — Fournier’s favorite color — and photo buttons with her smiling image.

Her brother, Butch, recited a poem. “We’ll miss your voice,” he read, “your infectious laugh....”

A video montage on large screens flashed photos of Fournier, who lived in Garden Grove but was originally from Dorchester, Mass. Some were from her childhood and others from her teenage years, when she had long brown hair.

But most of the photos showed Fournier with her children.

Her daughter, Chelsea Huff, told mourners that her mother was smart, funny and loving. And, Huff added, Fournier would jokingly say “family were her worst clients, because they never paid and always complained.”

Chad Huff, one of her sons, said his mother called him on Oct. 10 and invited him to a birthday dinner — for whatever dish he wanted. He chose chicken enchiladas with a verde sauce.

“She got to see me turn 26,” he said. Fournier’s 8-year-old son also was in attendance.

In a eulogy, Cindy Pagano, a longtime friend, said she remembered Fournier as a third-grader with a Boston accent and purple velvet knickers.

Fournier, who loved to cook and was said to have the best recipe for sauce in her Italian family, was competitive but caring, Pagano said.

“She was a lover of life,” Pagano said. “She talked about spending her 50th birthday on the Amalfi coast.”

After the service, eight white pigeons were released, one for each victim killed in the shooting.

At a gathering in Long Beach, friends emphasized Fournier’s giving nature; she hosted “Taco Tuesday Nights” because she liked to entertain.

“She had a really big heart,” said Jody Madsen, another close friend. “Her home was open to anybody.”

Todd Kovessy of Long Beach said Fournier cut his hair for four years. He said that before her, he never thought of his hairstylist like a family member.

“That’s why I’m here,” he said. “She made me feel like family.”

Hundreds of teal balloons were released in honor of Fournier.

In Seal Beach, businesses in the same shopping center as Salon Meritage donated a portion of Monday’s sales to the Seal Beach Victim’s Fund. More fundraisers are expected in upcoming weeks.

nicole.santacruz@latimes.com

Times staff writers Rick Rojas and Mona Shadiah contributed to this report.