Ralph Norris' Obituary
Ralph Arnold Norris was born May 6, 1926, the fourth and youngest son of Oliver Marion and Grace (Pittman) Norris, in Holt County, Missouri. He passed away Friday morning, June 26, 2009 at Windsor Estates in Camdenton, Missouri. His parents and three brothers; Earl; J.R. and Harold predecease him. The family lived in and around the Rushville, Missouri, community during Ralph’s childhood and teen years. He always enjoyed recalling his memories of family and friends made in the small rural area. Like many young men during World War II, Ralph joined the armed forces a few months shy of his 18th birthday. He served in the Navy and was stationed in Hawaii. He had worked as a teenager for Woody Thompson in a general store in Rushville, and that gave him experience driving a delivery truck, which transferred to the Navy where he became a driver of trucks, jeeps or whatever needed to be driven. He still had his military driver’s permit issued June 29, 1945. Ralph retired from Jones Truck Lines in 1983, a member of Teamsters Local 41. He also drove for Triangle Transfer and Riss. He lived in the Kansas City area all of his adult life and for many years in North Kansas City. Ralph loved to travel and had revisited Hawaii a couple of times. He had also traveled to England, Ireland, Australia, Tahiti and enjoyed some cruises and often went to Mexico as well as visiting most if not all of the lower 48 states. Ralph is survived by his son Gary Norris and wife, Karen of Wood Heights, Missouri; daughter Linda Smith and husband, John of Climax Springs, grandsons James and Luke Smith; 3 step-grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Also surviving him is a special niece, Rae Jean Key and grand-nephew Ryan Key, both of San Antonio, Texas; all of his friends at the Mill Inn Restaurant in Excelsior Springs; the breakfast crew at Burger King; his friends at the French Quarters, both located in North Kansas City; the Aubrey family and other family members and friends. Ralph was very ill the last 2 months of his life, but he never failed to say ‘thank-you’ to the people who cared for him. One of his favorite sayings was, “It is a great life, if you don’t weaken”. He admired honesty, kindness and gentleness in others and tried to live that way and did profess his faith in Christ. Thanks, for the memories, Daddy, we love you! Services are incomplete and under the direction of the Allee-Holman-Howe Funeral Home Camdenton, Missouri. Return to top
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