John Norman
John Thomas Norman, 70, of Oklahoma City was born Dec. 14, 1947, to Turner and Mary Jo (Kaylor) Norman in Lequire.
He attended school at Lequire and McCurtain, where his mother was a teacher. He moved with his family to Carlsbad, N.M. in the late 1950s, where he would earn a black belt in karate and work as a photographer. John later moved to Oklahoma City, where he drove a cab and took pictures for an advertising agency before joining the labor union to become an ironworker in his early 20s. After moving back to Lequire in his 30s, John tried his hand at being a cowboy when he started the Lazy J Horse Ranch. In the mid-80s John moved to New Jersey to work as an ironworker, building skyscrapers and bridges in New York City. He met his beloved wife, Cissy, there and lived there until the early 90s, when he returned to Oklahoma City to work as an ironworker, an auto parts wholesaler and a real estate investor. John was very active in his local union, becoming a labor organizer for the Local 48. John received an Award of Merit from the Oklahoma State Firefighters Association for being one of the first to respond after the Murrah Building was bombed in 1995. Keeping a promise that he had made to his mother, John received his Bachelor of Arts & Labor Studies degree on June 30, 2001. John was a friend of Bill W. for 25 years and spent many years helping others to achieve the same success. John took great pride in family and had a deep love for his. He will be remembered for his “enhanced” stories, his charm and his beautiful smile.
John left this earth on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, surrounded by his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Turner and Mary Jo Norman; four brothers, Joe Norman, Bob Norman, Jim Norman and Randy Chatfield and two sisters, Lee McCullar and Marilyn Reese. John is survived by his wife, Cissy, and their felines, of the home; three children, Quentin Kartchner and wife, Dianna, Emily Sloan and husband, Tommy and Ellie Johnson and husband, Jeff; seven grandchildren, Christi and husband, Jeff, Amy and husband, Steven, Destiny, Brittany, Rustin, Travis and Kaity; six great-grandchildren, Madison, Jayce, Landon, Kaybri, Brylyn and Paisley; his brother, Stephen Norman and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Memorial services will be Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, at Eastwood Assembly of God Church in Stigler at 10:00 a.m. with Bro. Rick Stout officiating.