John Emet Norman, Jr.

 

John Emet Norman, Jr.

January 7, 1920 – May 14, 2015

John Emet Norman, Jr. passed from his earthly life on May 14, 2015. John was born on January 7, 1920 to John Emet and Willie Hare Norman in Crosby County, Texas. He graduated from Plainview High School in 1938 and went on to college at Texas A&M. He often hitchhiked across the state of Texas with only a dime in his pocket to travel home for the holidays. He said with his uniform on he never had a problem getting a ride.

He met the love of his life when his father encouraged him to date a pretty, young Dickey girl from church. John and Glendell married on May 5, 1942 and spent 73 wonderful years together.

In 1943, John was drafted into the army. He served in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma and Camp Chafee, Arkansas as a technical sergeant for the final years of World War II.

After his discharge in 1946, he went to work for an engineering consulting firm in Lubbock, Texas. John was instrumental in taking rural electricity to much of west Texas, the Texas panhandle, and New Mexico. In 1959 he took another consulting position in Enid, Oklahoma. After doing consulting work for Tri- County Electric in Hooker, Oklahoma, he became the co-op engineer in 1968 and served as the general manager from 1975 until his retirement in 1986.

John was baptized into Christ in Amarillo, Texas at the age of 12. Since the congregation his family attended was meeting in the county courthouse, he was baptized in a horse tank. The church has always been the center of his life. He served as an elder in the East Main Church of Christ of Christ in Enid, Oklahoma and the Church of Christ in Hooker, Oklahoma for a combined 20 years. After retiring and moving to Edmond, Oklahoma, he and Glendell placed membership at the Edmond Church of Christ where they have worshipped for 29 years. John was involved in the prison ministry and visitation. He took tremendous joy in making sure new-comers felt welcome at the Edmond Church. John greatly loved his church family and friends. Although unable to attend services for the last two years, visits from friends, especially his young friends who affectionately called him “Candy Man,” were the highlights of his days.

John is preceded in death by his parents, infant son Dickey Lynn, and sister Dorothy Brooks.

John is survived by his wife Glendell, three daughters Lynda Morris and husband Raye of Lilburn, Georgia; Jan Kelly and husband Charles of Huntsville, Alabama; Kathy Norman of Edmond; grandchildren Kimberly Keys and husband Bobby; John Morris and wife Mechelle, all of Lilburn; Kara Powers and husband Tom of Chicago, Illinois; Shawn Kelly and wife Jackie of Huntsville; great-grandchildren Steely and Evan Keys, Tyler and Kaitlin Kelly, and Michael Powers.

 

A formal visitation will be held 6- 8pm Sunday May 17, 2015 at Matthews Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 11 am Monday May 18, 2015 at the Edmond Church of Christ. Graveside services will be 1pm Tuesday May 19, 2015 at Fairview Cemetery in Wellington, Texas.