James Gregory Norris

James (Jim) G. Norris, 76, of Baker, Florida, passed away peacefully at home on March 2, 2025 following a battle with heart disease and Alzheimer’s. Beloved husband of Vicki Norris, devoted father of Brent Norris and Christa Henderson, proud father in-law to Amy Norris and Jason Henderson, cherished grandfather to Ashlyn Henderson, Carly Norris, Connor Norris, Kaylee Henderson and Zach Henderson, and loved brother to Patricia Phipps and Brenda Tollison.

Jim was born March 17, 1948 in Charleston, South Carolina to James and Wylene Norris. After serving as a B52 bomber crew member stationed in Japan during the Vietnam War, Jim returned to the states and where he met the love of his life, Vicki Carlson, at Barksdale Air Force Base Shreveport, Louisiana. Soon married, Jim and Vicki spent the next 20 years in the US Air Force and raising two children. Jim was in the US Air Force, but as all military families know the whole family is really serving. Using the Bootstrap program, he attained his college degree at Park College in Parkville, Missouri and attended officer training school soon after. A man of many talents, Jim worked as an Optometry tech, flight-line fuels manager, weapons air traffic controller, and he was most proud of his time spent in services ensuring airmen had good, safe, sanitary, and secure housing and food services. Eventually and after many Air Force assignments, Jim and Vicki retired, settling in Niceville, Florida, and later moving just a bit north to Baker, Florida.    

Our dad will be dearly missed by family and friends. His family was his pride and joy, and his greatest joy in his life was being a papa to his grand babies. He showed unconditional love to his family and always made sure to say I Love You and usually more than twice. Dad was a hugger who never hesitated to get you in a warm embrace and to tell us how proud he was of us. He had a legendary knack for turning any situation into a hilarious one and usually with our stomachs aching from laughing. Dad’s final words were usually Love you and drive safe and then he would slip a twenty into one of our pockets for gas money. He was always a person you could count on and didn't hesitate to help anyone in need.   

Dad struggled with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes the last several years of his life many times, struggling to grasp or hold on to what was real. The one thing that always seemed to shine through and make it through the cracks of his illnesses was his love for his family. Even so, it was not easy being around dad these last years. These diseases are horrible and Mom deserves a medal or sainthood for the love and patience she continued to demonstrate to dad. Married 54 years, there were ups and downs but mostly love and a lot of laughs.      

To Dad, just know we will remember. We remember all the times you made us laugh, all the fun and crazy adventures we went on, all the times you picked us up when we were down, all the times you told us you were proud, all the times you believed in us, all the times you were there for us, all the hugs, and all the times you said I love you. Thank you for being a compassionate, kind, caring, generous man. Thank you for being a husband, dad, papa, and brother that we will always remember, miss, and be thankful for having in our lives.

We love you and drive safe!

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