LUDLOW, Vt. – John M. Norton passed away peacefully in his sleep on Oct. 16, 2025, at the age of 88. He was born on July 9, 1937, the son of Bernard Norton and Eleanor Norton (Wheeler).
He married Maureen T. Norton, the love of his life, on Dec. 10, 1956, in Tyson, Vt. They celebrated 68 loving and devoted years together before Maureen’s passing on Jan. 31, 2024.
John was extremely proud of having worked his first dump truck hauling loads of materials (gravel, etc.) for the State of Vermont while helping to build Interstate 91 from the Massachusetts border to just south of Brattleboro. This work led him to begin his own business, Norton Excavating Inc. He rebuilt several bridges for the State of Vermont in the Orwell and Middlebury, Vt., area. He was quite busy and very experienced in doing excavation and landscaping jobs for various primary and second homeowners, as well as flood damage repairs and other jobs for local towns. He constructed two sports fields for the Town of Ludlow, one at BRHS, and one at the complex on Pond Street.
John had a lifelong dream of driving a tractor-trailer over the road. He realized his dream a bit later in life, driving for C&S Wholesale for several years out of Brattleboro, delivering loads of groceries to grocery stores throughout southern New England. He loved driving and doing mechanical work on his equipment and cars. He continued doing excavating jobs until just a few years before his passing, when he lovingly became full-time at-home caregiver for Maureen.
John had a passion for going on long walks, and was most often seen along Route 100 in Tyson, beside lakes Echo and Amherst, in good weather or bad. Family was very important to John.
In addition to his wife, John was predeceased by Maureen’s parents Harvey and Hattie Gray, his parents Bernard Norton and Eleanor Norton, stepfather Clifford Wheeler (Eleanor), brothers John Wheeler and Arnold Norton, and sisters Ruth Kendall and Carole Blaise.
John is survived by a daughter Deborah Hyjek (Eugene), of Browns Summit, N.C.; two sons David Norton (Debra), of Proctorsville, Vt., and Darrin Norton (Hector), of North Springfield, Vt.; grandchildren Jeremy Hyjek (Monica), Christopher Norton (Kimberly), and Jonathan Norton (Michelle); great-grandchildren Kaylee Norton, Lena Hyjek, Lyndsee Norton, and Isabella White; his sister-in-law Marcia Manner (Kendall), of Ludlow; brothers David “Jack” Norton (Irene), of Salisbury, N.C., Everett Norton (Rose), of Ludlow, Vt., and Dennis Norton (Carol), of Ascutney, Vt.; sisters Charmaine Bidgood (Robert), of North Springfield, Vt., Colleen Johnson, of Newport, N.H., and Shirley Billings, of Rutland, Vt.; and many nieces and nephews.
A graveside service for family members and friends will be held Oct. 23, at 1 p.m., at Pleasant View Cemetery in Ludlow, Vt. Per John’s wishes, no other services are planned.
Davis Memorial Chapel in Springfield is assisting the family with the arrangements.