Norman Beattie Mcwilliams

Norman Beattie McWilliams, long-time resident of Plymouth, and later Concord, died at the Havenwood nursing home on Saturday, August 30, 2014. Cause of death was a ripe old age, just shy of his 94th birthday. Seemingly always full of mischievous good cheer and a smile for all, Norman's life was filled with family, a zeal for the great outdoors and nearly 40 years of service with the Sprague Electric Company where he was personnel manager in their Jefferson, N.C., Plymouth and Concord plants. Many a Grafton County resident remembers Norman in this role for his even-handed, fair-mined and sensitive approach.

Norman was born September 11, 1920 in New York City to Dr. Norman B. McWilliams Sr. of Ossining N.Y. ("Scotchtown", NY) and Dorothy Brown of New York City. The young family moved to North Adams, Massachusetts and later to Williamstown, Massachusetts. Norman attended Eaglebrook School, Deerfield Academy and Dartmouth College, graduating after service in the US Army during WWII.

At Dartmouth, Norman studied geology at a time when oil exploration was booming. He could have explored the world through work, yet true to heart, he chose to stay in the New England that he learned to love and explore during those college years. Active in the Dartmouth Outing Club when C. Ross McKenney became its legendary leader, Norman and Ross became life-long friends, sharing their love of the outdoors. Through Ross, Norman learned the Abenaki Way - to cherish and revere the natural world as Gods Creation; and it was in the natural realm that Norman found the greatest peace through life's challenges.

Norman started with the Sprague Electric company in North Adams, Massachusetts and married his life-long wife and companion Micheline Yvonne Deane in Williamstown, Massachusetts in 1948. Micheline was visiting a family cousin in Williamstown after the war ended and Norman's father was the family Dr. They resided in Stamford Vermont a short time and then moved to Keane N.H where their first two sons Gordon and Kenneth were born. Norman transferred in 1953 to Jefferson North Carolina to help open a new manufacturing plant for Sprague and there, third son Mark was born.

Residing through the 1950's in Jefferson, Norman developed life-long relationships with the plant's management team, "Marty" Daigneault, Robert Marriott, Robert Parrish and others. It was this team that moved to New Hampshire to open Sprague's Plymouth and Concord New Hampshire plants and In June 1961 they moved to Plymouth and remained there for over 40 years.

Norman is survived by son Kenneth B. McWilliams of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire; Mark D. McWilliams and his wife Oliva S. McWilliams of San Diego, CA; Mary Davidson McWilliams, of Seattle, WA, wife of son Gordon Maslin McWilliams deceased; Grandchildren, Angus McWilliams of Los Angeles, CA, Jessica McWilliams of Sacramento, CA and Katie McWilliams of Seattle, WA; sister-in-law, Collette Villepasteur of Chenaud, France and her children Alain and Anne Villepasteur.

Norman is predeceased by his wife of 62 years Micheline Yvonne Deane, his son Gordon Maslin McWilliams, eldest son, died in an avalanche in January 2000, and by his brother Gordon Brown McWilliams. Norman is also predeceased by many pets who were part of the family: Tiny, Pat, Chester, Clancy, Morton, Sphinx and Sparkles.

The McWilliams family would like to take this opportunity to thank Norman's many friends for visiting him. We also want to recognize the staff at Havenwood and Heritage Heights for all they did to help Micheline and Norman live independently through their 80's. They truly are doing the Lords work and their compassion and grace are remarkable.

Norman and Micheline for many years supported the Mayhew Program on Newfound Lake, a summer camp where many a wayward boy from the city has been guided in a better direction. He requested that donations be sent in his name to: The Mayhew Program, Newfound Lake, P.O. Box 120, 293 West Shore Rd, Bristol, New Hampshire 03222