Thomas A. Norris |
| Posted 2009-10-27 by Judy Wight Branson |
| The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Wednesday, October 21, 2009 Thomas A. Norris, 62, slipped away from this world with his wife, younger sister and brother by his side. Suffering from liver and kidney failure, he and his family hoped for a transplant, but his body could not hold out long enough. Tom was a creative and resourceful individual. The totem pole he carved from a cedar log still graces the Seattle home of his aunt and uncle. Other talents included drawing, painting, macramé and playing classical piano. After graduating from the University of Washington, he headed to Alaska to try his hand at halibut fishing. It was a poor season for fishing but he didn't come back empty-handed. There he met Ruth Anne Simmons and, in an uncharacteristically impetuous act, married her two months later. They were partners for the rest of his life. After several years in Seattle, they moved to a rural area to experience a "back to the land" lifestyle for nearly 10 years. In 1983, they moved to Arizona to advance Tom's career. He worked in the aerospace industry for the next 20 years. Upon retirement, he became an accomplished cook, experimenting with new recipes, to the enjoyment of family and friends. He and Ruth Anne moved to Prescott, Ariz., where they remolded a house into a wonderful craftsman style home and settled into their new neighborhood. Tom loved animals, and a succession of lucky dogs and cats were an important part of his world. Tom was a beloved uncle to his nieces and nephews. He and Ruth Anne welcomed them to their home, taught them to swim, play backgammon, make lefse and most of all made them feel accepted and loved. He was an extraordinary man who will be greatly missed. A celebration of life service will be 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009, at Mariposa Gardens Cemetery Chapel, 6747 East Broadway Road, Mesa, Ariz. The family will receive friends from noon till the hour of service. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations in Tom's name to Arizona Humane Society, 1521 W. Dobbins Road, Phoenix, AZ 85041, www.azhumane.org or to the Best Friends Animal Society, 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, Utah 84741, www.bestfriends.org. Information provided by survivors. |
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