Howard E. Nourse

Howard E. Nourse, 85, of Monterey died November 26, 2021 at home from Parkinson’s where he was cared for by his loving wife of 64 years with the assistance of Hospice.

He was born October 7, 1936 in Great Barrington, MA, the only child of Arthur and Lola Goewey Nourse. The family moved to New Marlborough before Howard started school. He was a 1955 graduate of the New Marlborough High School in Mill River, one in a class of nine. Five of those students went through all twelve grades together and remained lifelong best friends.

On June 1, 1957 he married his high school sweetheart, Pat Stanton. They resided in the Town of New Marlborough until 2000 when they built a new home in Monterey.

Howard worked first in the Mill River General Store until 1968. In December of that year, he went to work for E. Caligari & Son, Inc. in Great Barrington. Mr. Caligari expanded a small Taylor Rental Store and Howard was the Manager there for over 30 years until he retired at the end of 2003.

Community activities while a New Marlborough resident included serving almost 30 years on the Volunteer Fire Dept., serving as Chief for 4 years in the 1970s. He was a member of the New Marlborough Finance Committee from 1968 until 1994. He also served in the U.S Army Reserves for 6 years, serving active duty in 1959. He was a member of the Harold D. Rood Legion Post 350 in New Marlborough.

Besides his wife he leaves a son, Neil Nourse and his wife, Helen Eline, and their daughter, Kate. He also leaves a daughter, Thea Ross Smith and her husband, Carl, of Connecticut. Thea’s three children are Keith, Josh, and Evan Ross. Josh and his wife, Heidi have five children ages 6 months to 10 years, four boys and one girl.

Howard always was very particular about the way his lawn looked and spent many hours riding on his various riding mowers. The land in Monterey was purchased five years before the new house was built and Howard kept it mowed all that time. People would stop and ask, “Is this a park?” The answer was “No, there’s an invisible house up there waiting to be built!” Over 21 years have been spent together in that very special spot since the house was built.

SERVICES – The family will receive friends from 1:00pm to 2:00pm on Saturday, December 4, 2021 at Finnerty and Stevens Funeral Home in Great Barrington, MA. A memorial service will begin shortly after at 2:00pm. Friends are asked to please wear a mask.

Please do not send flowers due to allergies. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to HospiceCare in the Berkshires or either the Monterey or New Marlborough Fire Departments in care of Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home, 426 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230. To send remembrances to the family go to www.finnertyandstevens.com