Norman L. Burgess

ATHOL - Norman Burgess, 78, of 83 Sanders St., Athol, died Thursday, July 10, 2008 at home. He was born in Athol, on November 7, 1929, the son of the late Vernon and Evelyn (Murray) Burgess. Mr. Burgess attended local schools including Athol High School. He served during World War II in the Army, from February 4, 1946 to September 9, 1949. He was a construction worker at P.T. Hebert Masonry of Orange for nearly 20 years. He later worked as Manager of the former Depot Lounge of Athol and was affectionately known as "Stormin' Norman". M r. Burgess has owned and operated several businesses, including the Burgess Motor Inn of Seabrook, NH, the Atlantic Surfside Hotel and the Driftwood Motel, both located in Salisbury, and more recently Grand Pause in Orange. He was a lifetime member of the Elks Lodge of Newburyport, the Athol Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Moose Club in Florida. He was very good at poker, and enjoyed playing Texas Hold 'em on the computer. He was a fan of the Patriots, the Red Sox, and Nascar, and attended many Daytona 500 races. He leaves his wife of 23 years, Frances (Petrousky) Burgess; three daughters, Norma Jean Talbot and her husband Steven of Athol, Jacqueline Britt and her husband Chester of Apollo Beach, FL, Evelyn Boudreau of Athol; two sons; Mark Burgess and his wife Denise of Orange, Michael Burgess and his wife Cassandra of Palmer; one step son, John Page of Ohio; three brothers, Richard Burgess and his wife Mae of Florida, Howard Burgess and his wife Theresa of Athol, Phillip Burgess and his wife Cecilia of Westminster; thirteen grandchildren, four great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sisters, Vernlyn Rockwell and Joyce Burgess, and by his step daughter, Louise Marie Johnson in November 2007. Funeral services will be held Monday, July 14, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. in the J. Edward Murphy Funeral Home, 137 Main St., Athol. Burial will follow in Gethsemane Cemetery. Calling hours will be held Sunday, July 13, 2008 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. For more information or to sign our online guest book please visit www.murphysfuneralhome.com. J. Edward Murphy Funeral Home, 137 Main St., Athol, is directing arrangements. $(document).ready(function(){ });