Norman Goodine

With his family by his side, Norman Archibald Goodine of Sisson Ridge, NB, passed away peacefully at the Upper River Valley Hospital on the evening of August 31, 2023.

Norman was born in Gardiner, Maine, on May 5, 1927, to Perley Goodine and Florence Stover. After moving to Canada as a child, Norm settled into the town of Plaster Rock, New Brunswick where he graduated from high school in 1944. He would call this town home for the remainder of his 96 years.

Norm began driving logging trucks and working in the woods at the age of 16, long before actually obtaining a driver’s license. He took a short break from the forest to spend some time in the military, then the reserves in New Brunswick but his passion for logging led him to eventually start his own business- Norman Goodine Trucking Limited, where he worked tirelessly until his retirement.

Norm spent many days in his garage, working on the trucks, tinkering with whatever object he was determined to fix at any given time, and “organizing” his tools and supplies into ice cream containers and old tin cans. He always had spare parts on hand “ just in case”, storing extras in the sheds or at the camp. Although Norm claimed that he never hit a moose during all of his years in the trucking industry, anyone who actually drove with him knew that he spent more time watching the deer in the fields than the road in front of him.

Norm married Carol (Rollins), adding four stepchildren to the five children he already had. He relied on Carol to not only keep him organized, but also very well fed, as he never turned down a heaping plate of food, unless of course it was escargot. He often enjoyed eating dessert first, faithfully returned for seconds, and always ate the corner bun. Norm and Carol enjoyed many camping trips together throughout the province, but especially along the Tobique river, where Norm shared stories around the fire year after year, always willing to answer questions about everything from local history to constellations visible in the sky. Norm and Carol’s camper and home were always filled with family, whether it be for a family meal, a quick visit, or an overnight stay. He took great pleasure in teasing many of his grandchildren and their friends during sleepovers by waking them with torturous toe tickling and a slow drawn out “wakey wakey” accompanied by his distinctive laugh in the morning.

Norm enjoyed the simple things in life, which he was able to focus on more in his retirement years. He was an avid reader and loved a good history book, the newspaper, the Reader’s Digest (which he faithfully read front to back) and the Farmer’s Almanac. He also enjoyed listening to CBC radio or the scanner over a cup of King Cole tea, followed by an afternoon “siesta” in his favorite chair, as his snoring reverberated through the house, and a repeat episode of “Little House on the Prairie” blared on the TV. Norm was passionate about gardening, hunting and fishing, and he faithfully supplied the cucumbers for Carol’s famous pickles from his garden. Norm proudly displayed his prized lake trout, “Harvey,” on the wall, which he caught in Thubun Lake, Northwest Territories in 1981. To this day, he holds the record for the largest fish ever caught there. Norm lived life to the fullest, but never too seriously and always in slow motion, which was evident when he’d show up on the doorstep of various family members on Christmas Eve asking for help to complete his Christmas shopping.

Norm thrived in the woods, and above all loved spending time at his beloved camp, puttering, making maple syrup, fishing, and going on annual hunting trips with his buddies, where they would spend more time playing cards and eating than actually hunting. He knew the Renous and all of the surrounding logging roads like the back of his hand, and had a name and a story for every mountain, hill, and turn in the road along the way. He had a great sense of adventure but poor planning skills, and was known to take off on the four-wheeler, forgetting his gun, fishing rod, and food at the camp.

Children and animals always gravitated towards Norm and he to them. He had no fewer than fifty-seven grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren who adored him as a kid at heart. He was known to joyfully take the kids for a ride so they could honk the horn in the big truck, make tall towers out of anything he could find at the dinner table, and build blanket forts in the living room. He will also be missed by the cats and dogs in the family who had the opportunity to lick from his plate when Carol wasn’t looking. Norm faithfully cared for his own dog, Princess, for years, getting up early to give her a morning Milk Bone before walking to the garage together for work.

Norm was a long-time parishioner and deacon at Sisson Ridge United Baptist Church, as well as a dedicated member of the Masonic Lodge for 62 years. Though many kids tried for years to discover if there actually was a "Masonic secret handshake," he took that secret with him to the grave.

Norm was a master tinkerer, amateur meteorologist, Encyclopedia Britannica for his entire family, and a jack of all trades- but only when he had his tongue out to help him focus. He was also an expert at losing his teeth- often in the snowbank. It was a common occurrence to have the grandchildren and neighbors called in to search for Norm’s teeth, which either slipped from his shirt pocket, or were placed somewhere other than in his “tooth garage.” Of course, each time they were found, he always responded with a quick-witted comment, and his contagious laugh, as he had a delightful sense of humor. If any future teeth are found in Sisson Ridge, they do not belong to Norm, as his are now in safekeeping as a designated family heirloom.

Norm is survived by his loving wife Carol Goodine; his children Wendy Reid, Deborah Harding (Lee), Pamela Arseneau (Lindsay), Robert, and Kenneth (Elaine); his stepchildren Marcia Inman, Richard Clarke (Kathy), Susan Harrison (James), and Cindy Finnemore; his brothers Gary and Charles Goodine; as well as his 57 grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren; and many special nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents; his sister Elizabeth Marshall; his daughter Gail; and his son-in-law Richard Reid.

The family would like to thank Dr. Barry Wecker for his years of compassion and dedication caring for Norm, as well as the staff on 2 East at the Upper River Valley Hospital for their care in Norm’s final days.

The family asks that you remember Norm by enjoying life’s simple pleasures— whether that be savoring a spoonful of homemade maple syrup or fresh brook trout, enjoying a cup of tea while listening to CBC radio, spending quiet time in the woods, or laughing with friends and family. If you wish to make a financial donation in memory of Norm, please consider one of the following: Sisson Ridge United Baptist Church, Cystic Fibrosis Canada, The Epilepsy Association of the Maritimes, or The Canadian Cancer Society, The Canadian Liver Foundation.

A celebration of Norman’s life was held at 2 pm on Wednesday September 6, 2023 at Sisson Ridge United Baptist Church. Pastor Dwayne Broad officiated, assisted by Pastor Leonard Cousins. Fond remembrances of Norm were shared by close friends and family. Interment followed in the Sisson Ridge Cemetery.

Arrangements were entrusted to Brunswick Funeral Home, Perth-Andover and Plaster Rock, NB.