David Norris

David Norris, Broken Bow and New Orleans

November 21, 1933 – March 25, 2023

Born first of two brothers to Harold Ford Norris and Nancy Dorothy Norris (Penix) in Jonesboro, AR, November 21, 1933, David Byrd Norris was brought up to value both the love of family and the love of community. In his early years the family lived in Jonesboro, Fort Worth, TX, and Oklahoma City, Ada and Broken Bow, OK.  He graduated from Broken Bow High School in 1951, where he played basketball and football, then attended Oklahoma State University where he continued to play football until he suffered an injury.

While at OSU, David joined the Wesley Foundation where he met his future wife, Bee Harrington.  He joined the Army during the Korean Conflict and was stationed at Landstuhl Medical Center, Germany. After he returned, he married Bee and completed his BS in Economics from OSU.

The couple then moved to DeKalb, TX, to start a family and run a dry goods store opened by David’s father. During their time in Dekalb, David was active in the First United Methodist Church where he taught the Methodist Youth Fellowship, and also served on the DeKalb Independent School District Board helping to initiate desegregation. Their three children were born in DeKalb, and their domicile included two milk cows, a horse, a dog, and several cats. 

In 1969, they moved to Broken Bow, OK, to take over the original location of the family business, Norris’ Department Store. David’s father encouraged his involvement in civic projects geared toward the growth of Broken Bow and David would go on to receive the President Achievement, Heritage, and Citizen of the Year awards from the Broken Bow Chamber of Commerce, as well as being named to the Oklahoma State Industrial Commission by Governor George Nigh. Additionally, David was an active member of the Lions Club of Broken Bow for 58 years and the founder of both the Broken Bow Retail Merchants Association and the McCurtain County Christmas Parade. When he wasn’t working at the store or on civic projects, he coached boys and girls little league basketball and was active in the First United Methodist Church of Broken Bow, Methodist Men’s Group, the Methodist Youth Fellowship, and the Masonic Lodge No 441 AF & AM in addition to working on local and statewide political campaigns.

A passionate advocate of the Broken Bow Public Library, David successfully fundraised to renovate the old Broken Bow High School to serve as a impressive public library, was the Chairperson of the Friends of the Broken Bow Library and sat on the Southeastern Public Library System regional board for many terms.  He was also an active member of the Broken Bow Garden Club and an avid OSU sports fan, so much so that he was named to the Oklahoma State University Track and Field Hall of Honor as a “Friend of Track.”

In 2014, David and Bee moved to New Orleans, LA, to be near their children and grandchildren. They quickly made friends at their new residence, the Lambeth House Continuing Care Retirement Community and also found a new church home at Rayne Memorial United Methodist Church, where they attended services and Sunday school class.   

On March 25, 2023, David died peacefully after a long struggle with dementia.  He was predeceased by his parents, his wife Bee, his brother Bob Norris (and Kay).  He is survived by daughters Lisa Norris and Nancy (Rosie) Wohl (and Mike), son Harold Norris II (and Kell Julliard), grandchildren Cassie Segal, Katie Wohl, Ben Segal (and Larissa), Eleanor Hamilton-Wohl (and Matt), Olivia Wohl, Ashley Segal, two great grandchildren Noah and Gustave Hamilton-Wohl, and nephews, nieces, and cousins.

Military Honors and the Masonic Services will be held June 6th at 9:00 a.m., 2023 at Denison Cemetery prior to the Memorial Service.

Celebration of Life Services are scheduled for Tuesday, June 6th at 11 am at Broken Bow First United Methodist Church, Broken Bow, Oklahoma. 

In lieu of flowers and in the spirit of David, the family requests that donations be made to the Friends of the Broken Bow Public Library https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=VDQFDJR8N2FXW, Wesley Foundation OSU https://www.okstatewesley.org/give/ , the Southern Poverty Law Center

https://support.splcenter.org/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app20013b?df_id=3140&mfc_pref=T&3140.donation=form1&NONCE_TOKEN=37BAF5F2470E4675779D68EE694AD49D, or Rayne Memorial United Methodist Church (New Orleans)

https://secure.accessacs.com/access/oglogin.aspx?sn=95677&f=1

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