Norman R. Small

Norman died April 5, 2023. We believe he now rests in the arms of his Savior Jesus Christ, awaiting the general resurrection and a reunion, with those who have gone before us when Christ’s return in power and glory.

Norman was born in Ayer, Massachusetts, on July 16, 1932, the first child of Clifford F. Small and Evelyn A. (Towle) Small. He leaves his sister, Nancy Small Pritchard of Elizbeth City N.C. His wife Carol A. Maskell Small, predeceased him in 2019. His first-born child, a daughter, Carolyn Small Plummer, predeceased him in December 2017, leaving her husband, The Reverend Donald W. Plummer and their children, Christie Goodwin and her husband Nathaniel and their son Andrew Plummer and his wife Kim. Norman and Carol have 9 great-grandchildren.

He leaves his son, The Reverend Steven A. Small, his wife Kelley, of Bridgewater NH, and their children Katharine Oikle and her husband Heath, their daughter Abigail Borchelt and her husband Ethan.

Norman graduated from Melrose High School in 1950 He attended Bentley College, MIT and Harvard University and a number of other schools amassing credits equal to the level of a master’s degree. He worked at State Street Bank in Boston before going to work for Anaconda Brass Company which was sold to Atlantic Richfield. Norman and Carol built a home in Wakefield, Massachusetts in 1962 where they raised their family. In 1987 they moved to Gilmanton, New Hampshire. Norman took an early retirement from Atlantic Ritchfield and begin his own company, Northeast Industrial Sales, selling machine tool parts throughout New England and beyond. He retired and closed his business at age 70.

Norman’s life was significantly influenced by his maternal grandfather, Ernest Towle, who along with his parents, passed on to him a deep and abiding faith in Jesus Christ. He in turn passed that faith on to his children and his children’s children. For 20 years, Norman was a Regent at Berkshire Christian College in Lenox, Massachusetts, a school that trained people for the Christian ministry, primarily in the Advent Christian denomination. He served as chair of its Board of Regents for many of those years.

Norman was deeply and dearly loved by his entire family. He was a Christian gentleman in every sense of that phrase. He was a person of the highest integrity. He had a wonderful sense of humor and embodied the faith he professed. He had an incredible work ethic because of which he was able to give his wife and children and subsequently their families a beautiful and abundant life.

A service of worship in celebration thanksgiving and hope will be held at the First Congregational Church in Pittsfield, New Hampshire where he and Carol and his son and his wife are members. Private burial following cremation will be in their family plot in the cemetery of the First Congregational Church in Gilmanton.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Building Fund of The First Congregational Church in Pittsfield, New Hampshire.

The Twin Oaks Funeral Home in Epsom oversees these arrangements.