Tribute to Tom Norton

Submitted by Jed Pettey

Tom fought cancer for months, weeks, days and eventually by the hour, and never let up his sense of humor. I remember seeing his son, Michael, at the store and asked how his father was doing. Here comes Tom shuffling around the corner within earshot, "Well Jed, I still have a couple of hours before I take off. Besides you still owe me a drink." He died three days later.

During our conversation, he mentioned how honored he was about being an Old Pro. "I tell you, Jed, the door bell would ring and there would be another brother coming by for a visit. And they would bring me food, and booze, and any kind of drugs I wanted. Why one time I went out to my car, and there were three bottles of booze and a case of beer in the car. I really love you, guys."

Well Tom ... we really loved you too. That big smile. How sometimes you would get lost in your sentences. How you made everyone feel welcome. You are missed and not forgotten.