NORTH HAVEN — The call to be a nurse takes equal amounts care and compassion.  

This best describes our mother, grandmother and friend, Martha Morrison Small. Born on the island of North Haven, in Penobscot Bay on June 28, 1942, she graduated from High School in 1960. In her youth, there were many island adventures, ferry trip rides and even a year with The Great Imposter, Ferdinand Demara, as her high school teacher.  

She started her nursing journey by continuing her education with a year at Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield and then on to the big city of Boston to enroll and ultimately graduate with an RN from Children’s Hospital in 1964. Besides her children, it was this accomplishment she was most proud of and one that she lived every day. Once a nurse, always a nurse.

She began her career at Westbrook Community Hospital specializing in obstetrics and labor/delivery. She then moved to geriatric care in various care facilities across Maine including Pine Point Manor, Saint Andres Healthcare and SMMC Visiting Nurse services with a focus in skilled nursing and hospice care. Upon her retirement, she had over 50 years of nursing experience.

Through it all, she welcomed a daughter, son and three grandchildren, whom she took care of in their younger years.  The newest addition, her great-granddaughter, Audrey, was a gift she treasured.

As her physical health became challenging, she made the pragmatic decision to return to North Haven, residing at Southern Harbor Eldercare. It was here that her life came full circle, ultimately becoming a mentor and friend to the staff that lovingly took care of her. She passed peacefully the morning of March 3 surrounded by those who loved her with the birds merrily coming and going from the feeder outside her window.

Rest easy as you cross the bay,
This one last time in sunbeam rays;
The sweet salt air curled round the bow,
To cradle you in comfort now.

She is predeceased by her parents, Foster and Elsie Morrison; her sisters Elsie Re Brown, Greta Engberg; two special brothers-in-laws, Benson Brown and Victor Engberg; and her beloved son, Thomas Small, who passed away in 2019.

She is survived by her daughter Heidi Small and son-in-law Matthew Barney of Falmouth; daughter-in-law, Milca Small of Scarborough; and her grandchildren, Gretchen and Holly Barney of Falmouth, Noah and Morgan Barney of Freeport.

Plans for a celebration of life will be announced later this spring, internment will be at Blanchard Cemetery, in Falmouth.

In lieu of flowers, if you would like to make a memorial donation to honor Martha’s nursing legacy, please mail to: Southern Harbor House, 12 Pulpit Harbor Road, North Haven, Maine 04853; Attention: Lindsey Beverage.

To share a memory or condolence with Martha’s family, please visit their Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com. Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.