Norman E. Hadley

Norman E. Hadley, 99, a resident of Route 8A, died at his home on Sunday, June 14th, surrounded by his loving family, following a lengthy period of declining health.Norman was born in Portland, Oregon, on May 22, 1916. At the age of 6, his family moved east, first to Reading, Mass., and then to Malden, Mass.He graduated from Malden High School in 1934, with aspirations to attend the University of Massachusetts majoring in agriculture. Due to the Great Depression, college was not possible; he worked a series of odd jobs at the Stuart Theatre in Boston as an usher, his aunt's inn in Jaffrey, NH, and several dairy and chicken farms. By the time of the 1938 hurricane, he was working at Faulkner & Colony woolen mill in Keene, NH. In Keene he met his future wife, Miriam Morse, on a blind date. They were married in 1940 and relocated to Jacksonville, Vermont in 1943 where they lived on the Elliot C. Morse farm and helped with the dairy farm, milk route, and he started learning the electrician's trade.During World War II, Mr. Hadley was called to serve his country in the U.S. Army, and was stationed at Camp Hood, Texas, with the 2nd Armored Division. Mrs. Hadley joined him there from 1945 until 1946.Following the Army service they returned to Jacksonville where they built the home where Norman resided for 69 years, raised a family of three children, and operated an electrical contracting business, Norman E. Hadley & Son, which is still continued by his son Alan. Norman worked as the first electrician for Mount Snow, and for many other customers in the Deerfield Valley. He finally retired at the age of 85. He served his community in many capacities, including auditor, selectman, board of civil authority, and school director for the Town of Whitingham. Norman served the Jacksonville Community Church as treasurer, moderator, Sunday School teacher, youth group leader, and was instrumental in the Sunday school building construction project. He was also very active with building maintenance issues for the church for many years.Norman's hobbies included growing a large garden, with potatoes, numerous vegetables, and raspberries. He also enjoyed maple sugaring; building and operating two successive sugarhouses. He and Miriam enjoyed traveling for several years to such destinations as Florida, California, Oregon, Utah, and Illinois. He was an avid reader, especially of newspapers and magazines, and was very knowledgeable about current events on local, national, and international levels. Always willing to help friends and neighbors, he plowed snow for the neighborhood for many years with a succession of tractors and trucks. Always devoted to his family, he frequently helped with their home construction and maintenance projects. He especially enjoyed the many times he and his family spent together.Norman leaves two sons, Ronald and his wife Elizabeth Hadley, of Norwood, MA, and Alan and his wife Isabelle Hadley, of Jacksonville; a daughter Candace and her husband Charles Evans, of Farmington, CT; five grandchildren, Maureen and her husband Kevin Lavelle, of Needham, MA, Karen and her husband Michael Guarin, of Norwood, MA, Jonathan Evans and his wife Courtnay of Concord, NH, Rebecca Evans, of Berwin, PA, and Jennifer Evans, of Foxborough, MA, and seven great-grandchildren, plus nieces and nephews. Norman was predeceased by his wife Miriam, a daughter Sandra, and his brother, Robert Deckman, and Robert's wife Frances Deckman.Funeral services for Norman Hadley will be held at the Jacksonville Community Church on Saturday, June 27th, at 10:00 am, with the Reverend Douglas LaPlante, pastor, officiating. A time of fellowship and refreshment will follow in the Sunday school building of the church. Calling hours will be held at the Covey Allen & Shea Family Funeral Home, 44 East Main St., Wilmington, VT from 6-8 pm on Friday, June 26th.Should friends desire, memorial gifts in memory of Norman Hadley may be made to the Jacksonville Community Church or Bayada Hospice, in care of Covey Allen & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215., Wilmington, VT 05363. Funeral services for Norman Hadley will be held at the Jacksonville Community Church on Saturday, June 27th, at 10:00 am. A time of fellowship and refreshment will follow in the Sunday school building of the church. Calling hours will be held at the Covey Allen & Shea Family Funeral Home, 44 East Main St., Wilmington, VT from 6-8 pm on Friday, June 26th