OBITUARIES: NORMAN WILLAM MACLEOD

BY REV. FARQUHAR RENWICK

Norman Macleod was born on a croft at Culkein, Sutherland in 1941. The youngest of a family of six blessed to the home of Norman and Peggy Macleod, both Gaelic speakers, he was well grounded in biblical truth from his earliest years. Times were hard and he had to join in with all the others on the constant round of crofting life.

After attending the local school at Stoer he moved on to Dornoch Academy. This meant adjusting to hostel life, but he adapted to it well. He spent six happy years in Dornoch packing in as much football and golf as he could manage alongside his studies. Holidays were spent making hay, cutting peats, shearing sheep or feeding animals, depending on the time of year.

After leaving school Norman headed to Aberdeen to study for a degree in Civil Engineering. He attended the Dee Street church where he was a fellow student of the late Prof. Douglas MacMillan. Deep and lasting impressions were made.

After graduating he worked for a time for the Roads Department in Argyll before moving to Hamilton County Council in 1966. This was the same year he married Catherine, whom he had met during his student years in Aberdeen. They were to be blessed with three children: John, Shona and Alison.

Later Norman worked for the Strathclyde Region in Glasgow, followed by a move to Lochgilphead in Argyll as Chief Engineer. It was there he joined Lochgilphead Free Church during the ministry of Prof. John MacIntosh. He would go on to serve as an elder and contribute much to church life.

In 2001 Norman retired to North Kessock on the Black Isle. He joined Knockbain Free Church and served for many years as an elder and Session Clerk as well as giving considerable service to Assynt and Stoer Free Church as an Assessor Elder. He served for many years on the Foreign/International Mission Board, making regular trips up and down the road to Edinburgh.

In his latter years he was often to be found on the golf course as he maintained an impressive level of fitness. He also took great pleasure in interacting with his children and grandchildren in Norway and America as well as those living in Scotland.

Norman’s demise at the end came suddenly and unexpectedly but he bore the illness to which he would succumb with courage and dignity. There was an air of tranquil acceptance right up to the end. He knew the One in whom he had trusted and it was indeed a case of grace for the hour. He was ever grateful that he spent his final lap on this earth in his own home, nursed untiringly by his beloved wife Catherine and the Community Health Teams.

He is mourned by Catherine; his son John and his partner, Janne; his daughter Shona and her husband, Simon; his daughter Alison; and his grandchildren, Kaia, Ailsa, Beth, Fin, Errin and Rory, as well as the local and wider church and community. •

Dear in God’s sight is his saints’ death Psalm 116:15