1932 – 2013

BRUNSWICK — Raymon Wilson Small, 80, of Bowdoin died Jan. 11 at Parkview Adventist Medical Hospital.

He was born in Lewiston on May 6, 1932, the son of Milton H. Small and Alice Wilson. He went by the nicknames of  “The Mayor” and “Smilin Ray.” Anyone who met him remembers his wide, infectious smile.

Growing up he was active in 4-H, going to Louisiana to judge vegetables and Chicago to 4-H Congress. He graduated from the University of Maine in Orono, where he earned a degree in agriculture.

After graduating, he married Carole Gayton on June 2, 1956, and worked on the Millay Farm and for the state of Maine mowing roadsides and shoveling sand from the back of trucks to keep our roads safe.

He and his bride came home to the Samll Farm to operate a Jersey dairy farm. They changed it to Small’s Dairy Farm and milked Jersey, Guernsey and Holstein cows.

He served and participated on the following co-operatives and organizations: Androscoggin Soil and Water Conservation, Planning Board in the town of Bowdoin, Eastern Breeders, Agway, Woodlawn Cemetery, and  Bowdoin and Bowdoinham Granges.

He retired Dec. 1, 1998. He enjoyed gardening, feeding birds and traveling. He was his wife’s caregiver until her death in 2010. He was always showing his care for others by giving whatever he made, including muffins, cookies, relishes, jams or jellies.

Raymon enjoyed activities and classes at the Senior Plus and Dempsey Center. He participated in laughter yoga whenever he could. He told his family he had the most wondrous summer in 2012.

He is survived by his brother, L. Bruce Small and wife, Dolly; his daughters, Laurie Linn, and Ramona Stinson and husband, Skip; his son, James Small and wife, Karyn; six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, with Raymon Milton Merrill yet to arrive.

He has now joined Carole, his beloved, in the Kingdom of Heaven.

The family would like to thank Dr. Trudi Chase, her staff and the staff at Parkview Adventist Medical Hospital for the caring attention he received from them.

His smiling face will be missed by many.