Glen Norman

Glen Wayne Norman, 69, of Dickinson, Texas passed away peacefully, Saturday March 13, 2021 at Mainland Center Hospital in Texas City, TX after a long battle with heart issues.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, Douglas Wayne Norman and Lois Geraldine “Jerry” Henson, his unborn daughter Kayla Danyell Norman, his younger brother and lifetime Ride-or-Die Geary Norman, his beloved lady Linda Burke, who always brought out the best in him, a sister-in-law he thought very highly of, Linda Nash Norman, his lifelong partner-in-crime, best friend, and confidant Mickey Burkett Perry, and numerous aunts, uncles, family members and friends.

Glen is survived by the four he marked most with his hard-headedness, his daughters, Kelly Youngblood and husband Jeff of Tyler, TX and Kasey Haney of Dickinson, TX, his sons, GW Norman of Liverpool, TX and Justin Norman of Ironton, OH, his five rotten grandchildren who loved their Grumpy Grandpa despite his slightly short patience for their antics and their ability to throw his own brand of comedy and orneriness back at him, Kruz and Jocelyn Youngblood of Tyler, TX, Kraig and Kamryn Latimer, and Drake Haney, all of Dickinson, TX.

He also leaves behind his brother Cecil Norman of Galveston, TX, sisters & brothers-in-law Sharon & Michael Robinson of Clifton, TX, and Tresea and Parviz Moradi of Dickinson, TX, brother-in-law and friend Ronnie Perry, former son-in-law and friend Donnie Haney, nephews, nieces, cousins, family, and many friends, several from his last years at Windsong RV Park in Dickinson.

A proud Texan, born October 10, 1951 on Galveston Island, Glen spent the majority of his life in and around Galveston and lived in the Ironton, Ohio area a handful of years.  He did not spend much time in a church pew, but he was a Christian and believer, he cracked a bible open at least a time or two, prayed daily and talked to the man upstairs quite often.  Amazing Grace was a favored hymn, and always made him feel like something was in his eye, as did the Star-Spangled Banner and Taps.

Glen was a carpenter by trade, worked at other jobs including Hogan’s Tire Shop and the Wharfs in Galveston, was part of UTMB’s Building Maintenance and Machinery work crew, and enjoyed telling stories of the Ambulance Service he worked at during his years in Ohio.  He was a skilled, self-taught craftsman and wonderful woodworker but only tinkered with it as a hobby, never making a living at it as many suggested he should do.  His kids and grandkids are thankful to have a few of his handmade items as keepsakes.

He loved all things Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and many, many movies such as Lonesome Dove, Dances with Wolves, Gone with the Wind, and The Wizard of Oz.  He loved all animals, especially Linda’s dog Buster who became his best buddy, and often babysat his granddaughter Kamryn’s dogs and cats while she was out of town.  He loved knowledge and was a master at “Jeopardy,” he also enjoyed putting big, difficult puzzles together, but nothing occupied his time like listening to music.  Eddie Rabbitt’s, “I Love a Rainy Night,” Johnny Horton’s, “North to Alaska” and a million others filled his mind and truly were his greatest love.  There were vinyl’s, 8-tracks, CD’s, and music players galore, but nothing could compete with his mountain of self-recorded cassette tapes with hand-written song lists on the jackets!  If you were special to him, he made one for you (or many) and if you don’t have one you missed out.  He loved the color orange and was secretly thrilled all his grandkids knew that fact about him!  He loved eating a What-A-Burger with onion rings, tacos from Jack in The Box, marshmallow Peeps, Lifesaver wint-o-green mints, drank way too much beer, and always ate way too big a dinner late at night.

His voice was always loud (only partially due to hearing loss), he carried himself as if he were ten feet tall and bulletproof, and he did not apologize for his self-described simple way of wanting to live life on his own terms.  To quote him, and country singer Clay Walker’s song, “I just want to live until I die.”  But in truth, everyone who knew Glen, especially those who loved him, would probably describe him as a complicated man who carried a heavy weight throughout his lifetime, and would describe his life with words like hard, or unsettled, not simple at all.  Despite all opinions, and there are many, we could all agree he was a hard person to understand and often-times hard to love.  But he loved with everything he had, even if he didn’t know “the right way” to show it, feel it, say it, share it or accept it.  And perhaps most important of all, he knew he was loved in return and took that love with him. For that we are ever thankful.

It also helps us greatly to know that he did pause what can be described as an unfinished life, to finally set down his life’s heavy weights and unsettled things, and he chose to use his time to remind us to learn from his mistakes, to spend our time wisely because it really passes in a blink, to be good people, to live more, love more, worry less, to “mind our manners,” and “be safe.”

We are also thankful he told those he loved most that he will miss us.  We are going to miss him too.  Truth be told, anyone who ever knew him and certainly everyone who loved him, will miss him in one way or another.  We are going to think of him often, tell his stories, share our memories, carry him with us, and hopefully add into our own lives the things he didn’t check off his list.  And though this may not be the ending he thought of for his life, or the one we would have written for him, we know he left us every lesson he learned and all the love he had.  We know he went peacefully, and we know there are a great many more people who loved him, like Nanny and Pop, who are up there waiting for him.

Dad’s wishes were to be cremated and for us to scatter his ashes.  He wanted no formal services, but our hope is for everyone he touched to send him off by raising a beer, sharing his stories, spreading his hardy laughter, or in any other way you choose that will bring happiness.

In lieu of flowers, memorials or volunteer hours may be given to the American Heart Association.

John 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.