Jeanette Joy Small

Surry
Jeanette Joy (Ingalls) Small passed away unexpectedly as the result of a fall at
her home in Surry on May 29, 2023. She was born in Surry on November 29, 1929, the
daughter of Edgar and Hope (Joy) Ingalls.
Joy proudly lived all of her 93 years in Surry. In fact, she often said she could write her own obituary saying "I was conceived in Surry, born in Surry, went to school in Surry, got married in Surry, worked in Surry, raised my kids in Surry and died in Surry."
While that may be the brief version of Joy's life, she lived and enjoyed life fully.
She was wise, witty, generous, energetic, and wonderful. She was a founding member of the Surry Historical Society and the Surry Volunteer Police. Joy had served as a Surry Selectman, a supporter of the Old Village School rehabilitation project, a member of the Surry Methodist Church and of many other Surry organizations. Joy was a natural historian, a collector and sharer of artifacts, news clippings and stories about Surry and her family.
Joy was a dedicated, caring mother to Jayne and David and a loving wife to Bud. She and Bud owned and managed the Gatherings Campground for many years. At the Gatherings, they developed many lifelong friendships with the people who came there from near and far. One friend became her sister-in-law after Joy introduced her widowed brother, Alvin, to a camper named Doris. Joy also enjoyed her job working for Ms. Collins in the South Pacific Shop.
Joy loved visitors. She made every person feel special and appreciated. She was always making cookies and sharing them. She would make cookies for bake sales, for the workers at the Transfer Station and for those at the Surry Post Office. Visitors were invited to share a glass of wine or a cookie and a good conversation.
Joy leaves behind her son-in-law, Scott Blethen; her sister-in-law, Doris Ingalls; and her stepchildren, Richard, Helen, Mary, and Vicki. She was Aunt Babes to her sister Charlotte's children, Audrey, Joanne, Norma, Doug, Tom, Kathy, Lorraine, Ann and Mike; and to her brother Alvin's children, Jeff, Cheryl, Peter, and Scott. Following Charlotte's death in 2021, Aunt Babes became a beloved second Mom to Audrey,
Joanne, Norma, Lorraine, and Kathy with whom she shared meals, household tasks, stories and much laughter. Joy also leaves behind many friends and neighbors who cared deeply for her; Lee and Glenna Bingham, Jacqui Kaufman, Claire Cullinane, Scott Blethen, Josh Rosenthal, Mary Small, Sylvia Atherton, Jimmy Patten, and Audrey Carter. For many years, these people called, visited, helped with daily tasks, kept her car running, did repairs around the house, prepared meals for her or took her to appointments. She often said "I feel so lucky to have so many good neighbors, friends, and family. How many old people have so much?"
Joy was predeceased by her children, Jane (Hooper) Blethen and David Hooper; her husband, Loring (Bud) Small; her brother, Alvin Ingalls, and her sister; Charlotte (Ingalls) Atherton Eastman. Joy missed all of these relatives greatly and was especially looking forward to joining her children.
In remembrance of Joy, call or visit a friend, make some cookies to share, or have a sip of wine with a friend. In lieu of flowers, if you wish, please donate to a charity of your choice or locally to the Surry Historical Society, PO Box 17, Surry, ME 04684, or to the Old Surry Village School, 1147 Newbury Neck Rd., Surry, ME 04684.
A Celebration of Joy's life will be held at 2:00 pm on June 25, 2023, at the Old Surry Village School, 7 Toddy Pond Road. Interment will be in the Ingalls' family plot in the Surry Village Cemetery.
Arrangements by Jordan-Fernald, 113 Franklin St., Ellsworth
Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com.