MADISON - Phyllis (McAtee) Small, devoted mother, grandmother, dear friend and faithful follower of Jesus Christ, peacefully and joyously went to be with our Lord and Savior, and her beloved Stevie, on Thursday March 19, 2015, with her devoted son, Ronald Small, by her side. The devotion to and love of his Mother was obvious to all that saw them together. Phyllis was born in the Northern Maine town of Hodgdon on January 21, 1916, the granddaughter of hearty, Irish immigrants, Barney and Ellen McAtee and the daughter of Edward (Papa) and Jennie McAtee, she was the youngest of five children.
She spent her earliest years in Aroostook County, later moving to Plymouth, where she married Henry Small in 1935 and raised her three sons, Wayne, Ronald and Steve.
Phyllis was raised in a strong farming and harness racing family. She often talked about her life on the farm, about the love and admiration for her Papa and her love of, and experience with, raising horses. Phyllis knew her way around a race track and could pick the winning horse without any hesitation. One of her favorite things to do, and she talked about frequently, was her love of helping mares deliver their colts. Maybe she felt a connection to the young, fragile lives, due to her own battle to survive her premature birth. Whatever it was she did strive to and successfully saved the lives of many premature colts. She assisted in the delivery and would bottle feed them, nursing them back to health so that the mares could then take care of them. Growing up, she had a horse that she named Patsy. Whom she loved dearly, and created many memories with. She also had a cow that she loved dearly, named Betsy. She often told the story of saving Betsy's life, reaching down to retrieve an apple the cow was choking on. Phyllis loved to share the harrowing story of her birth.
She would tell us how she was born prematurely, in the coldest part of the year and weighing only three pounds. Her Grandmother, Abbie Reed, delivered the tiny, weak baby Phyllis, on a cold January night in 1916. She was so little that her Grandmother put her in a small shoe size box, and to keep little, fragile, baby Phyllis warm enough, her Grandmother placed the box behind the woodstove. Phyllis always credited her Grandmother, Abbie Reed, with saving her life. She frequently talked about growing up and had such a remarkable memory. She told us about her favorite Christmas, when she was five, "Papa gave me ice skates and a teddy bear, oh how I loved them."
Two of her favorite places was Sears Island and Colonial Gables in Searsport, she loved the ocean and treasured her time there with family. I loved the many days and nights that I spent with my "Grammy June". Every night before bed Grammy would recite the story of Cinderella to me and then play "Three Little Piggy's" on my toes, such treasured memories, I am sure we all have many. Phyllis also had a great sense of humor, never holding her thoughts back. You never had to guess what she was thinking. We all have so many stories, some appropriate for this occasion and some not, you all know what I am talking about. I can hear her giggling now.
Phyllis is survived by her devoted son Ronald Small and his life partner, Bonnie Dunphy, who played such a special role in her life. Her son, Wayne Small and his wife Arlene in Mississippi. Her granddaughter Jennifer Small-Vernon, her Husband David and her beloved great-granddaughter Abigail Vernon, whom she absolutely adored and treasured. Her special granddaughter, Lynn Smith and her Husband Jim, of Anson; as well as their two children, James and Casey. She has several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, all she loved dearly. She always thought of and loved Bonnie's children as her own grandchildren Penny, Tanya, "the kids", and Troy. She loved her very special great, great grandson, Even Burrnell.
Phyllis was predeseased by her beloved, youngest son, Stevie, in July 1969. Her Mother Jennie McAtee, Her Father Edward McAtee, Her sister Doris Steele, Her brother Alexander McAtee, Her brother Edward (Ned) McAtee and brother Beecher. She was also predeseased by her loving and special granddaugther Tory Smith.
A graveside service will be held in June at Sawyer's Cemetery in Plymouth (details will be announced).
A very, heartfelt thank you to all of the special staff at Maplecrest Nursing home, that so lovingly cared for "Grammy June." You became family, not only to her but to her son Ron. Thank you all so very much for your 11 years of dedication to "Grammy June."
"Mom, are we going to the races today, what horse should we bet on?" Dad, Grammy is at the races, she is smiling and undoubtedly placing bets on the winning horse.
Goodbye for now my sweet Grammy, We love you so much.
Donations may be made directly to Maplecrest Nursing Home, in the name of Phyllis June Small. (Central Maine 3/24/2015 & Giberson Funeral Home)
She spent her earliest years in Aroostook County, later moving to Plymouth, where she married Henry Small in 1935 and raised her three sons, Wayne, Ronald and Steve.
Phyllis was raised in a strong farming and harness racing family. She often talked about her life on the farm, about the love and admiration for her Papa and her love of, and experience with, raising horses. Phyllis knew her way around a race track and could pick the winning horse without any hesitation. One of her favorite things to do, and she talked about frequently, was her love of helping mares deliver their colts. Maybe she felt a connection to the young, fragile lives, due to her own battle to survive her premature birth. Whatever it was she did strive to and successfully saved the lives of many premature colts. She assisted in the delivery and would bottle feed them, nursing them back to health so that the mares could then take care of them. Growing up, she had a horse that she named Patsy. Whom she loved dearly, and created many memories with. She also had a cow that she loved dearly, named Betsy. She often told the story of saving Betsy's life, reaching down to retrieve an apple the cow was choking on. Phyllis loved to share the harrowing story of her birth.
She would tell us how she was born prematurely, in the coldest part of the year and weighing only three pounds. Her Grandmother, Abbie Reed, delivered the tiny, weak baby Phyllis, on a cold January night in 1916. She was so little that her Grandmother put her in a small shoe size box, and to keep little, fragile, baby Phyllis warm enough, her Grandmother placed the box behind the woodstove. Phyllis always credited her Grandmother, Abbie Reed, with saving her life. She frequently talked about growing up and had such a remarkable memory. She told us about her favorite Christmas, when she was five, "Papa gave me ice skates and a teddy bear, oh how I loved them."
Two of her favorite places was Sears Island and Colonial Gables in Searsport, she loved the ocean and treasured her time there with family. I loved the many days and nights that I spent with my "Grammy June". Every night before bed Grammy would recite the story of Cinderella to me and then play "Three Little Piggy's" on my toes, such treasured memories, I am sure we all have many. Phyllis also had a great sense of humor, never holding her thoughts back. You never had to guess what she was thinking. We all have so many stories, some appropriate for this occasion and some not, you all know what I am talking about. I can hear her giggling now.
Phyllis is survived by her devoted son Ronald Small and his life partner, Bonnie Dunphy, who played such a special role in her life. Her son, Wayne Small and his wife Arlene in Mississippi. Her granddaughter Jennifer Small-Vernon, her Husband David and her beloved great-granddaughter Abigail Vernon, whom she absolutely adored and treasured. Her special granddaughter, Lynn Smith and her Husband Jim, of Anson; as well as their two children, James and Casey. She has several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, all she loved dearly. She always thought of and loved Bonnie's children as her own grandchildren Penny, Tanya, "the kids", and Troy. She loved her very special great, great grandson, Even Burrnell.
Phyllis was predeseased by her beloved, youngest son, Stevie, in July 1969. Her Mother Jennie McAtee, Her Father Edward McAtee, Her sister Doris Steele, Her brother Alexander McAtee, Her brother Edward (Ned) McAtee and brother Beecher. She was also predeseased by her loving and special granddaugther Tory Smith.
A graveside service will be held in June at Sawyer's Cemetery in Plymouth (details will be announced).
A very, heartfelt thank you to all of the special staff at Maplecrest Nursing home, that so lovingly cared for "Grammy June." You became family, not only to her but to her son Ron. Thank you all so very much for your 11 years of dedication to "Grammy June."
"Mom, are we going to the races today, what horse should we bet on?" Dad, Grammy is at the races, she is smiling and undoubtedly placing bets on the winning horse.
Goodbye for now my sweet Grammy, We love you so much.
Donations may be made directly to Maplecrest Nursing Home, in the name of Phyllis June Small. (Central Maine 3/24/2015 & Giberson Funeral Home)
MADISON - Phyllis (McAtee) Small, devoted mother, grandmother, dear friend and faithful follower of Jesus Christ, peacefully and joyously went to be with our Lord and Savior, and her beloved Stevie, on Thursday March 19, 2015, with her devoted son, Ronald Small, by her side. The devotion to and love of his Mother was obvious to all that saw them together. Phyllis was born in the Northern Maine town of Hodgdon on January 21, 1916, the granddaughter of hearty, Irish immigrants, Barney and Ellen McAtee and the daughter of Edward (Papa) and Jennie McAtee, she was the youngest of five children.
She spent her earliest years in Aroostook County, later moving to Plymouth, where she married Henry Small in 1935 and raised her three sons, Wayne, Ronald and Steve.
Phyllis was raised in a strong farming and harness racing family. She often talked about her life on the farm, about the love and admiration for her Papa and her love of, and experience with, raising horses. Phyllis knew her way around a race track and could pick the winning horse without any hesitation. One of her favorite things to do, and she talked about frequently, was her love of helping mares deliver their colts. Maybe she felt a connection to the young, fragile lives, due to her own battle to survive her premature birth. Whatever it was she did strive to and successfully saved the lives of many premature colts. She assisted in the delivery and would bottle feed them, nursing them back to health so that the mares could then take care of them. Growing up, she had a horse that she named Patsy. Whom she loved dearly, and created many memories with. She also had a cow that she loved dearly, named Betsy. She often told the story of saving Betsy's life, reaching down to retrieve an apple the cow was choking on. Phyllis loved to share the harrowing story of her birth.
She would tell us how she was born prematurely, in the coldest part of the year and weighing only three pounds. Her Grandmother, Abbie Reed, delivered the tiny, weak baby Phyllis, on a cold January night in 1916. She was so little that her Grandmother put her in a small shoe size box, and to keep little, fragile, baby Phyllis warm enough, her Grandmother placed the box behind the woodstove. Phyllis always credited her Grandmother, Abbie Reed, with saving her life. She frequently talked about growing up and had such a remarkable memory. She told us about her favorite Christmas, when she was five, "Papa gave me ice skates and a teddy bear, oh how I loved them."
Two of her favorite places was Sears Island and Colonial Gables in Searsport, she loved the ocean and treasured her time there with family. I loved the many days and nights that I spent with my "Grammy June". Every night before bed Grammy would recite the story of Cinderella to me and then play "Three Little Piggy's" on my toes, such treasured memories, I am sure we all have many. Phyllis also had a great sense of humor, never holding her thoughts back. You never had to guess what she was thinking. We all have so many stories, some appropriate for this occasion and some not, you all know what I am talking about. I can hear her giggling now.
Phyllis is survived by her devoted son Ronald Small and his life partner, Bonnie Dunphy, who played such a special role in her life. Her son, Wayne Small and his wife Arlene in Mississippi. Her granddaughter Jennifer Small-Vernon, her Husband David and her beloved great-granddaughter Abigail Vernon, whom she absolutely adored and treasured. Her special granddaughter, Lynn Smith and her Husband Jim, of Anson; as well as their two children, James and Casey. She has several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, all she loved dearly. She always thought of and loved Bonnie's children as her own grandchildren Penny, Tanya, "the kids", and Troy. She loved her very special great, great grandson, Even Burrnell.
Phyllis was predeseased by her beloved, youngest son, Stevie, in July 1969. Her Mother Jennie McAtee, Her Father Edward McAtee, Her sister Doris Steele, Her brother Alexander McAtee, Her brother Edward (Ned) McAtee and brother Beecher. She was also predeseased by her loving and special granddaugther Tory Smith.
A graveside service will be held in June at Sawyer's Cemetery in Plymouth (details will be announced).
A very, heartfelt thank you to all of the special staff at Maplecrest Nursing home, that so lovingly cared for "Grammy June." You became family, not only to her but to her son Ron. Thank you all so very much for your 11 years of dedication to "Grammy June."
"Mom, are we going to the races today, what horse should we bet on?" Dad, Grammy is at the races, she is smiling and undoubtedly placing bets on the winning horse.
Goodbye for now my sweet Grammy, We love you so much.
Donations may be made directly to Maplecrest Nursing Home, in the name of Phyllis June Small. (Central Maine 3/24/2015 & Giberson Funeral Home)
She spent her earliest years in Aroostook County, later moving to Plymouth, where she married Henry Small in 1935 and raised her three sons, Wayne, Ronald and Steve.
Phyllis was raised in a strong farming and harness racing family. She often talked about her life on the farm, about the love and admiration for her Papa and her love of, and experience with, raising horses. Phyllis knew her way around a race track and could pick the winning horse without any hesitation. One of her favorite things to do, and she talked about frequently, was her love of helping mares deliver their colts. Maybe she felt a connection to the young, fragile lives, due to her own battle to survive her premature birth. Whatever it was she did strive to and successfully saved the lives of many premature colts. She assisted in the delivery and would bottle feed them, nursing them back to health so that the mares could then take care of them. Growing up, she had a horse that she named Patsy. Whom she loved dearly, and created many memories with. She also had a cow that she loved dearly, named Betsy. She often told the story of saving Betsy's life, reaching down to retrieve an apple the cow was choking on. Phyllis loved to share the harrowing story of her birth.
She would tell us how she was born prematurely, in the coldest part of the year and weighing only three pounds. Her Grandmother, Abbie Reed, delivered the tiny, weak baby Phyllis, on a cold January night in 1916. She was so little that her Grandmother put her in a small shoe size box, and to keep little, fragile, baby Phyllis warm enough, her Grandmother placed the box behind the woodstove. Phyllis always credited her Grandmother, Abbie Reed, with saving her life. She frequently talked about growing up and had such a remarkable memory. She told us about her favorite Christmas, when she was five, "Papa gave me ice skates and a teddy bear, oh how I loved them."
Two of her favorite places was Sears Island and Colonial Gables in Searsport, she loved the ocean and treasured her time there with family. I loved the many days and nights that I spent with my "Grammy June". Every night before bed Grammy would recite the story of Cinderella to me and then play "Three Little Piggy's" on my toes, such treasured memories, I am sure we all have many. Phyllis also had a great sense of humor, never holding her thoughts back. You never had to guess what she was thinking. We all have so many stories, some appropriate for this occasion and some not, you all know what I am talking about. I can hear her giggling now.
Phyllis is survived by her devoted son Ronald Small and his life partner, Bonnie Dunphy, who played such a special role in her life. Her son, Wayne Small and his wife Arlene in Mississippi. Her granddaughter Jennifer Small-Vernon, her Husband David and her beloved great-granddaughter Abigail Vernon, whom she absolutely adored and treasured. Her special granddaughter, Lynn Smith and her Husband Jim, of Anson; as well as their two children, James and Casey. She has several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, all she loved dearly. She always thought of and loved Bonnie's children as her own grandchildren Penny, Tanya, "the kids", and Troy. She loved her very special great, great grandson, Even Burrnell.
Phyllis was predeseased by her beloved, youngest son, Stevie, in July 1969. Her Mother Jennie McAtee, Her Father Edward McAtee, Her sister Doris Steele, Her brother Alexander McAtee, Her brother Edward (Ned) McAtee and brother Beecher. She was also predeseased by her loving and special granddaugther Tory Smith.
A graveside service will be held in June at Sawyer's Cemetery in Plymouth (details will be announced).
A very, heartfelt thank you to all of the special staff at Maplecrest Nursing home, that so lovingly cared for "Grammy June." You became family, not only to her but to her son Ron. Thank you all so very much for your 11 years of dedication to "Grammy June."
"Mom, are we going to the races today, what horse should we bet on?" Dad, Grammy is at the races, she is smiling and undoubtedly placing bets on the winning horse.
Goodbye for now my sweet Grammy, We love you so much.
Donations may be made directly to Maplecrest Nursing Home, in the name of Phyllis June Small. (Central Maine 3/24/2015 & Giberson Funeral Home)
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
