Obituary

Verlin S. Norris, age 73, of Harvest, AL passed away on Wednesday, May 14, 2014. Verlin was a loving husband and devoted father who leaves behind three children, two grandchildren, one great-grandchild, four brothers, and his mother-in-law. He was a member of Christ  Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Harvest, AL. He loved the outdoors and traveling across the country in his RV. Verlin was a retired electronics technician with a 45 year career working in radar and telemetry operations for military and NASA projects in the Eastern Test Range. His many assignments included supporting the Apollo and Space Shuttle projects from telemetry sites located throughout the Caribbean including the islands of Grand Bahama, Grand Turk, and Antigua. He spent 28 years supporting various projects at the Jonathan Dickinson Missile Tracking Annex in Jupiter, FL. He also spent 7 years supporting the Air Force Satellite Control Network while working at the telemetry station in New Boston, NH. His military service includes 6 years for the Colorado Army National Guard. Verlin was born in Boulder, CO where he graduated from Boulder HS in the class of 1959. He then earned an associates degree in electronics from the Devry Technical Institute and began his career working for Dow Chemical at the Rocky Flats Plant near Denver. He married his beloved wife Judy on December 2, 1961. Together they raised three children and moved several times as his career evolved. They lived for 7 years in Antigua, West Indies, 7 years in Goffstown, NH, and 28 years in Jupiter and Hobe Sound, FL. Verlin retired in 2007 and moved to Harvest, AL. Verlin was preceded in death by his parents Thaine A. Norris and S. Eloise Norris and his beloved wife Judy K Norris. Survivors include his three children: Toby (Alice) Norris, Steve (Tammy) Norris, Deborah Smith; granddaughters, Tawnya Smith and Stephanie Norris; great-granddaughter, Mcaylah Smith; four brothers, Terry Norris, Ken (Joni) Norris, Darrel (Jane) Norris, and Dan Norris; and his mother-in-law, Wilma Ruth Smysor. Memorial services to celebrate Verlin's life will be held at 10 am on Saturday, May 24 at Christ Church Cumberland Presbyterian, 1580 Jeff Rd NW, Huntsville, AL. He will be cremated and his ashes scattered alongside those of his beloved wife in Boulder Canyon, CO.