SPRUCE HEAD — Norman E. “Normie” Dennison Sr., 88, died June 18, 2015, at the Sussman House in Rockport, after being stricken while working the day before.

Born in South Thomaston on Sept. 25, 1926, he was one of four children of Percy E. and Lottie F. Richardson Dennison. He attended local schools.

Normie began working at an early age and continued that endeavor until the day before he died.

By trade, he was an accomplished sawyer who could visually analyze a log as it was cradled prior to sawing, ensuring maximum yield of sawn lumber from that log. For more than 25 years he worked as a sawyer at the former Newbert & Wallace Ship Yard in Thomaston. During that time, until the time of his death, Normie operated a saw mill at his Spruce Head farm.

If ever there was truly a jack-of-all-trades, that description perfectly fit Normie Dennison. Whether farming, replacing a steam boiler, building a barn, fixing a furnace, shingling a roof, wiring a house, building a chimney, replacing a deep well pump (which he did the day before he died); it didn't matter what the task, he could accomplish it.

Every year he looked forward to haying season, partially because his favorite place to be was on his tractor. He enjoyed operating that machine; be it bailing hay, plowing snow, mowing, moving logs or accomplishing any task the tractor and operator set out to do.

Often approaching life in a non-traditional, unique manner, Normie was never bound by anything as formal as a legal contract, but would rather work on a verbal agreement developed through friendship and reputation. He would often help someone in need, never asking for anything in return.

Although he worked seven-days-a-week, Normie found pleasure in going to the race tracks in Maine, New Hampshire and sometimes, New York. Over the years he owned and kept several race horses, including his favorite, Christina Marie. Following this sport sometimes found him returning home in the early hours of the morning, yet with little sleep he would be right back at work the next day. He often quipped to his family, "That's why I never drank ... I'd a whole lot rather go to work tired, than hung-over!"

Even though he was hearing-impaired much of his adult life, he would often recount conversation that was taking place about how to get the job at hand done more quickly or in a safer manner.

In addition to his wife of 54 years, Gladys M. Dennison, Normie is survived by his children, Randy R. Dennison, Norman E. Dennison Jr. and Kelly E. Dennison, all of Spruce Head, and Karen J. Grierson and her husband, Steven, of South Thomaston; one sister, Doris Brackett of Rockland; five grandchildren, Ryan Dennison, Mandy Dennison, Troy Cross, Stacy Grierson and Sandy Amenta; eight great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; as well as many nieces, nephews and extended family.

A graveside service will be held Friday, June 26 at 3 p.m. at Forest Hill Cemetery on Seal Harbor Road in Spruce Head. The Rev. Wayne Sawyer will officiate.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home.