Obituaries

Robert Earl Norman

Photo of Robert Earl Norman
Robert Earl Norman, age 89, left us to be with the Lord on March 22, 2012. He was born October 16, 1922, in Hickory Plains, Arkansas, to Franklin Oscar Norman and Gertrude Waters Norman who preceded him in death. Most of his childhood was spent on the family farm raising cotton and sorghum for molasses. They raised their own livestock and grew their own vegetables. He always said they didn't have much monetarily and they worked from sunup to sundown but they ate very well. He graduated from Des Arc High School and attended State Teachers College in Conway. In 1942, he married Minna Lea Simmons Norman and they raised three children, Robbye Norman Ridout and James O. Norman of Searcy who survive him and Robert Wesley Norman who in death preceded his Father in 1989. He was also preceded in death by three brothers; Edward, Charles and Richard Norman, one sister Evelyn Norman and one great grandson, Crews Allen Smith. Mr. Norman began his career with a John Deere Dealership, A.F. Horne Company, in Des Arc in 1945. He eventually came to own his own Deere dealerships, Norman Implement Companies, in Des Arc, Kensett, Augusta and Damascus which he operated early on with Wesley until his death and then for many years with his son, James, just retiring in July of last year. He received recognition in 2003 from Deere and Company for 50 years of service. Mr. Norman, having been the grand patriarch of a very large family for so many years has certainly passed the "work ethic" gene along to all of his children and grandchildren. His work was his passion. He loved greeting his friends and customers at the dealership. After the death of his first wife in 1980, he married Carol Ann Nicholson Norman who survives him. They were faithful members of First United Methodist Church first in Des Arc and then in Searcy. They were active members of the Murray Sunday School Class and the Tuesday Night Supper Club. Bob and Carol, avid Razorback fans, were contributors to the program and did not miss any games until Bob's failing health caused him to miss. Carol continued to make the games whenever possible and he never missed a game on television. Mr. Norman was a 33rd Degree Mason and was a member of White River Lodge #37 in Des Arc for over 50 years. He received his 33rd Degree in Masonry at the Albert Pike Temple in Little Rock in 2005. Other than the above named, he is survived by a son-in-law, Wayne Ridout and a daughter in law, Cecily Norman both of Searcy. He is also survived by seven grandchildren; Kristen (Kirk) Smith and Ross Norman (Betsy) Ridout of Searcy, Kari (Mark) Rockwell of Paragould, J.O. (Tamra) Norman of Little Rock, Andrew (Janelle) Norman of Tulsa, Rachel (Adam) Van Lear of Austin, and Christopher (Amy) Norman of Houston. Great-grandchildren surviving are: Zeke Ridout of NYC; Rivers, Rees and Rooke Ridout, Colton and Carlyn Smith all of Searcy; Blakely and Barrett Adams and Brooke and Benjamin Rockwell of Paragould; Trey and Addison Norman of Little Rock; Hadley Norman of Tulsa; Harper Van Lear of Austin; and Kyle, Austin and Kendal Norman, of Houston. He is also survived by brothers and sisters in law, Bea Norman of Des Arc, Rosemary Fortenberry, Larry Nicholson and J.D. Nicholson of Newport, Betty and George Doty of Conway and Sammy Byford of Wilson. Visitation at Garth Funeral Home in Des Arc will be from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday March 25. A reception will be held at First United Methodist Church in Searcy on Monday at 1:00 and the service will follow at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to First United Methodist Church, 304 N. Main in Searcy, or First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 498 in Des Arc. Online guest register www.garthfuneralhome.com.

Published March 24, 2012

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