Barbara Nell Norris

Barbara Nell Norris
October 30, 1939 - June 24, 2023

Barbara Norris - mother, grandmother, and world-class banana bread baker - passed away very peacefully on June 24, 2023, in the presence of her daughter and son-in-law. Barbara was born in Gilmer, Texas, to Lenna and Doyce Davis. She was their third daughter. Barbara was quite shy as a child (she would say "reserved") and would turn her back when asked to pose for pictures. She was most definitely not part of the "selfie" generation.

Barbara attended school in Mount Pleasant, Texas, for many years. She took piano lessons from Mrs. Brooks. (She hated it. Oops - "hate" is not a word she would use. She would say, "I really did not like taking piano lessons." So, she really did not like taking piano lessons.) She had a terrible bout of double pneumonia in the third grade and missed six weeks of school. She said her daddy doted on her while she was sick (lots of ice cream), and her mother talked the school principal into letting her advance with her class, provided she caught up with the missed work. She did, but was never a fan of long division. She was a cheerleader in the 8th, 9th, and 10th grades. (Guess she got past the shyness.) Her family moved to Dallas briefly in the early 1950s but returned to Mount Pleasant until her daddy's untimely death in 1955. Barbara, younger sister Carolyn, and Lenna then moved to Fort Worth, where Barbara enrolled in, and later graduated from, Paschal High School.

Barbara attended First Baptist in downtown Fort Worth. She always had a very strong faith. It was at First Baptist that she met her future husband, Dan Norris. She and Dan married in June 1959. They moved from Fort Worth to El Paso (U.S. Army stint for Dan), then back to Fort Worth. They then moved throughout the Midwest as Dan rose in employment with railroads. While living in the Midwest, Barbara always missed being near her extended family in Fort Worth. Family was important to her.

Barbara and her children, Kelli and Chris, moved to tiny Watauga, Texas in 1978. (Watauga was so tiny that even TXDoT misspelled the city's name on the one exit sign on Hwy 820 at the time.) It was a very big change for all of them. Barbara found a job she loved with people she loved and stayed with it until her retirement in 2007. However, making ends meet was always a challenge. She worked so hard and always had at least two jobs - her main 8-5 job, and another 6-9 (or 10 or 11 or 12) job. She once juggled three jobs at one time. The third job at that point was to enable her to buy Christmas presents for her kids. She was tired, her feet hurt, but she was determined, and she did it because she loved her kids and it needed to be done. She was not one to complain.

Barbara was "tickled pink" to be a grandmother. She was born to be a grandmother. She would drop everything to help with her grandkids. She loved them so, so much, and reveled in their every accomplishment and accolade.

Barbara was a life-long, die-hard, love-them-even-when-they're-losing, Dallas Cowboys fan. Her family knew better than to call her during a Cowboys game. Before or after - yes. Halftime - emergencies only, and you had best be done bending her ear when halftime ended. How the Cowboys are going to continue to play without their #1 fan in her burgundy club chair at home is a mystery. Maybe she will have connections up there to get them on the path of righteousness (i.e., to the Super Bowl).

Barbara was dealt a really nasty hand, contracting sepsis in late 2021. She fought long and hard to come back from that terrible illness. With encouragement, determination, physical therapy, and time, she recovered pretty well. It was her strong will to improve that gave her family another year and a half with her. For that, her family will always be grateful.

Barbara is survived by her daughter, Kelli; son, Chris; son-in-law, John; daughter-in-law, Carrie; her beloved grandchildren Kilee, J.D., and Michael; Kilee's spouse, Kaileb; her sweet sister, Sue McKnight; and many nieces and nephews.

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31.

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14.