Rayford Charles “Ray” Norris

Ray passed away on August 9, 2020 at a care facility in Lexington, Kentucky following a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s. He was a native of Battle Creek, Michigan. Prior to the care facility, Ray resided in Richmond, Kentucky and before that, at his vacation home in Hilham, Tennessee. In 1967, Ray married Vicky J Thomas, with whom he had four children. In the latter 1980s, Ray was married a short time to Linda Neville Catlett. He then married Sandra Rader, a union that ended with his passing. In 2001, Ray retired after 33 years with Clark Equipment in four different locations as they began building manufacturing plants in Kentucky and North Carolina, and one in South Korea. He spent the last ten years at Clark Equipment headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky as group controller over three domestic plants before moving to Hilham. In Tennessee, beginning in 2007, he served as president on the board of the Clay County natural gas company and as Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce—positions he held for about 9 ½ years. Survivors included Ray’s wife Sandra; his children, Chris Norris (Gail), Mark Norris, Jason Norris and Lori Norris; his step-children, Scott Chandler (Barbie), John Chandler (Kim), James Chandler and Michelle Shade (James); his brothers, William Norris (Nancy) and Paul Norris; a special niece, Kristi Saunders; and several grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, Floyd Norris and Iola Stone Norris, and his brother Larry Norris. For further insights into Ray’s life story, see his profile page on the class website, and his comments to classmate Sandy Berry on August 2, 2017 on her profile page. Follow the link below to view Ray’s obituary.

Information from Kerr Brothers Funeral Home, Lexington, KY online originally published in August 2020; BCCHS Class of 65 website; Enquirer and News, Battle Creek, Michigan January 8, 1967; Calhoun County (Michigan) Clerk and Register of Deeds Office; Kentucky Marriage & Divorce records on ancestry.com; and facebook (Ray’s recent picture)

https://www.kerrbrothersfuneralhome.com/obituaries.php?view=detail&id=14680