MERRIMACK, N.H. – George “Al” Heard, 88, passed away peacefully, September 17, 2026 at Community Hospice House in Merrimack, New Hampshire after a brief illness. He was surrounded by his loving children.

Born in Blount County, Alabama, he was the oldest son of the late George Hollie and Annie Sue Heard. In his early life Al’s parents farmed and his father was a rural mail carrier. His father moved his family to Gadsden, Alabama where his father went to work for the L & N Railroad. Allen attended public schools, graduating in the 1956 Class of the Gadsden High Tigers.

Al made many friends during his school years with his upbeat personality and friendly nature. He was an industrious boy, earning his spending money delivering newspapers, assisting the milkman with deliveries, and lifeguarding in summer months with his brother.

After high school, Al served for four years in the U.S. Air Force at Goose Bay in Labrador, Canada. Built in WWII as a strategic air base in a joint effort between Canada and the U.S.  Goose Bay was transformed during the Cold War into a base for the U.S. Strategic Air Command, NORAD defense operations, and NATO flight training.

Even though he left the South after High School and his time in the Air Force, and settled in New England, where he made his home in North Reading, Massachusetts, he always considered himself a Southern Boy. He loved returning to Alabama with his family, introducing them to his home, family reunions, southern cooking and southern expressions like “y’all come” and “Bless your Heart.”

Al had a unique gift of never meeting a stranger. He could connect with anyone and put them at case whether with a joke or by simply listening to them and establishing a connection. Al had been a friend of Bill’s for 39 years. During those years he helped many people and made many friends whom he called Family.

Al loved his sports, especially golf and football. He was a lifelong Alabama fan. He especially enjoyed the family rivalry between The Crimson Tide and The Auburn Tigers.

Al spent many years with his partner Carol Miller and her family. Together they traveled to Germany, Hawaii, Maine, Alabama and especially enjoyed their trips to visit their Virginia family. In retirement, Al and Carol also enjoyed the activities at the North Reading Senior Center where they made many friends and he especially loved driving the Senior Center van well into his 70s.

To know Al was to love him. He always had the right joke to share (sometimes many times over). He was also famous for his fudge and always had a batch to share for special occasions. While Al was in the hospital many people called and asked him if there was anything that they could do for him. His response was always, “Just be my Friend.”

Al leaves behind his children, Susan Heard-Brandano, David Heard, Nancy Costa and her husband Jim, and Allen Heard and his wife Janine; his sisters, Brenda Boyd and her husband Jerry and Rita Wilson and her husband Bob; his sister-in-law, Ann Heard, and Carol’s children, Jeffrey Miller and his wife Kathleen and Sharon Burke, as well as many nieces and nephews, grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and countless friends.

He was predeceased by his brother Jerry and his partner Carol Miler.

Visitation will be held on Friday, October 16 from 3-6 p.m. at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. To leave an online message of condolence please visit www.croswellfuneralhome.com   .