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 also 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 Small Farm to operate a Jersey dairy farm, changing it to Small’s Dairy Farm milking 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, Bowdoin and Bowdoinham Granges.
He retired December 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; 6 grandchildren, 2 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.
Family and friends are invited to visit Wednesday from 6 to 8PM and Thursday from 11AM to 1PM at the Dostie Funeral Home, 2151 Lisbon Road, Lewiston. Funeral services will be held Thursday at 1PM in the funeral home. Interment will be held in the spring at Woodlawn Cemetery in Bowdoin.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to The Dempsey Center, 29 Lowell Street, 5th floor, Lewiston, ME 04240.
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