HANOVER — Those who knew Norman K. Ferguson Jr. considered him honest, trustworthy, hard-working and professional.

Those are not always qualities one associates with a lifelong politician. But then again, Norm Ferguson wasn’t your everyday public servant.

“He was a loyal Republican without being hostile to Democrats,” Peter Mills said of his longtime friend whom he served with in the Maine Senate for eight years. “He was meticulously honest and very candid with people, but he wasn’t indecisive. You could always count on him. He was sincerely interested in learning what the issue was before he acted on it.”

Mills, who lives in Skowhegan, served in the Senate with Ferguson during the 1990s. He is making a run for governor and visited Ferguson just days before his death Monday at Hospice House in Auburn.

Mills said Ferguson, although physically weak, was sharp mentally as the two talked politics. He said Ferguson signing his petition to run for governor meant more to him than any other supporter because of his respect and admiration for the man who sat next to him in the Senate for eight years.

“He was just a very good legislator,” Mills said. “He’d look at an issue, decide what he was going to do and tell people upfront what he was going to do. Norm would look as hard as he needed to at any given issue before making a decision.”

Mills said that one of his favorite stories about Ferguson was the way he would stand up just seconds before the clock would turn and invoke a legislative rule requiring that senators vote whether or not to work past 9 p.m. Mills laughed as he told of how Ferguson would stand up with his booming voice and call for a vote, no matter if it was the middle of a heated debate or a fellow senator talking.

Ferguson’s reasoning, Mills said, was because he did not like the idea of trying to rush legislation through just because people wanted to go home. He would rather wait and continue the discussion the next day.

That sense of commitment to doing the right thing and making the most informed decisions played a huge role in Ferguson’s lifelong career passion for politics. Prior to his stint in Augusta, Ferguson served as an Oxford County commissioner for 26 years and served on the local school board for several years prior to that.

“He not only saw the opportunity to be involved as a public servant as something he enjoyed, but he enjoyed doing it for all the right reasons,” said Sawin Millett, a member of the Maine House of Representatives from Waterford. “He really wanted to meet the people’s needs.”

Millett worked closely with Ferguson during his days as a county commissioner. He believed Ferguson brought a certain level of professionalism to the role because he viewed it more like a career than a part-time position.

Millett said Ferguson’s reputation as a true man of the public earned him respect across the state. He added that Ferguson’s integrity and honesty helped him bridge the political divide between Democrats and Republicans.

“He’ll certainly be missed by all who knew him, and he leaves a big void in the Republican party and this part of the state, Millett said.

But behind a great politician like Ferguson, according to both Mills and Millett, was a great wife and family. And Ferguson had both, according to those who knew him.

Ferguson and his wife of 53 years, Barbara, raised four sons in the Hanover area. The couple were very involved in their community.

Holding back tears Monday night, Barbara talked about her late husband, who will forever be lovingly known to her as “Fergie.”

“He was completely honest and frank and fair with all his constituents,” Barbara Ferguson said. “He would return each and every call he received while serving in the state Legislature.”

Barbara Ferguson said that one of the memories that brings a smile to her face is the way her husband tried to sing. More often than not, she laughed, he “couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket.” But despite his inability to sing in key, she said her husband would always try and — given his loud voice — would always be heard.”

She said she will always remember her husband as a wonderful and caring father. Because he placed such an emphasis on education with his own sons, Barbara Ferguson said her husband would also write letters to constituents whose children were named on their school honor rolls.

“He was very outgoing. We’re a pretty warm, close-knit family, but we called him the social butterfly of the group because he was always out meeting people and wanting to help,” Barbara Ferguson said. “He could get along with just about anyone.”