LYME, NH — Duane Walker Small, 87, also known as “Duke,” passed at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center on Sunday, March 28, 2021. He was born in Lyme, NH April 1, 1933 to Ida V. (Young) and Ralph D. Small. He graduated from Hanover High School, Class of ‘51.
Duane served in the U.S. Army from March 1953 to April 1955. Stationed in Germany, he helped with the clean-up in the aftermath of World War II. Very proud of his service, he was a member of the American Legion Post in Lyme.
Duane married Alice Clark November 1, 1958. Duane was very supportive of Alice’s work with organizations in Lyme. The couple were members of Lyme Pinnacle Snowmobile Club and the Grafton County Mountaineers Chapter of Good Sam Club.
Duane enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, and picking wild strawberries and blackberries. Moosehead Lake, Nova Scotia, and the Maine Coast were favorite destinations.
Duane worked at Wagner Woodlands, the Skiway, and with Dartmouth College’s Grounds Department over the years, retiring from the NH Department of Transportation after 24 years of service. For many years he worked his own wood lot, cutting, dragging, and splitting wood, to supply the house. Duane was a tinkerer and was always working on something. He was very proud of his vegetable garden and potato patch.
As his health declined, Duane was fortunate to be able to stay at his home in Lyme with the help and care of his sons, neighbors, and friends looking out for him.
Duane is survived by his three sons, Jeffrey Small, Eugene Small, and Wesley Small; nephew, Dennis (Diane) Hoag; nieces, Colleen (Leo) Laviolette and Noreen Reu; and many other family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Alice Small; sister, Jean Hoag; and niece, Kathleen Hoag.
Burial will take place at Highland Cemetery in Lyme. A graveside service is pending and will be announced at a later date.
Memorial donations in Duane’s name may be made to the Lyme FAST Squad, P.O. Box 126, Lyme, NH 03768.
To leave a message of condolence or remembrance, please visit the online guestbook at www.rickerfuneralhome.com.