John Norris

JOHN ALVIN NORRIS

Cedar Rapids

John Alvin Norris, 74, passed away on Nov. 22, 2017, at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, following an extended illness. Services are at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. Burial: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

He was born on July 13, 1943, in Milton, Fla., to Alvin and Johnnie (Pedigo) Norris.

John grew up in Milton, Fla., where he was raised by his paternal grandparents, Calvin and Agnes (Weekly) Norris, on their family farm. During this time, John developed a lifelong love for hunting and fishing, and he would later regale friends and family with amazing stories from his very happy childhood. John graduated from Milton High School in 1961. He went on to study for a short time at the University of Southern Mississippi before heading to the Los Angeles area, where he worked as a manufacturing supervisor within the aerospace industry.

While in Los Angeles, John met the love of his life, Carmen, whom he married in 1964. In 1972, John, Carmen, and their son, Calvin, moved to Iowa, eventually settling in Washington, Iowa, where they lived for several years. In 1991, John and Carmen moved to Atlanta, Ga., but came back to Iowa in 2008 to retire near their son in Cedar Rapids.

John was an avid golfer in his retirement, playing every day of the week except in the most inclement weather. He played over 200 rounds per year, with virtually all of those walking the course. In 2016, he finally achieved his lifelong goal of making a hole-in-one, a feat of which he was extremely proud.

When he wasn't golfing, John was often fixing cars or doing some type of DIY home improvement. He was extremely handy, and there were very few projects too challenging for him to take on.

John was a devoted family man, and he loved spending time with his wife, son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren.

John was preceded in death by his brother, Samuel Calahan; his parents; and his grandparents.

John is survived by his spouse, Carmen of Cedar Rapids; his son, Calvin (Andrea) Norris of Cedar Rapids; his brother, Timothy Norris of Colfax, Calif.; his sister, Nancy Norris of Colfax, Calif.; his two grandchildren, Josephine and Truman Norris; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Please leave a message or tribute to the Norris family on the website www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.