Peacefully at his daughter’s home in Cocoa, Florida, at the age of 87 , Norman Burgess went to meet his savior. Norman and his twin sister Norma were born on December 11, 1932 in Logan County, West Virginia to Maude Midkiff and Silas Burgess. Norman is the last of his siblings to make the journey to heaven. He will be met at heaven’s gate by his wife Janice Burgess of 64 years and his siblings: Helen, Opal, Norma, Mary, Harold, Junior, and Denver Ray. Norman is survived by his children Laura May Robbins and husband Niel of Cocoa, Florida, Calvin Burgess and wife Tammy from Mexico, Maine. Norman was blessed with 8 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. His grandchildren were the apple of his eye. They called him PopPop, but many would call him the child whisper because all children loved him.
Norman loved the Lord and he spent many volunteer hours at his home churches; the First Baptist Church in Mexico, Maine and Moss Bluff Baptist Church in Ocklawaha, Florida. He helped build the food ministry when he was at Moss Bluff. He always made sure that his children and grandchildren knew the Lord.
Norman held many jobs in his life. When his dad died, he worked in the coal mines of West Virginia. When he was old enough, he joined the air force to send money home to help his mother. He is a Korean War Vet. After the air force, he took his wife back to West Virginia but they soon moved to Maine. In Maine, he worked at a gas station where he picked up the name rebel. He worked as a janitor in Peru Maine elementary, he worked at a saw mill in Peru, and eventually he found his forever job, a truck driver for Pioneer Plastic in Auburn, Maine.
Norman loved the outdoors in Maine. He loved to fish on Mooselookmeguntic Lake. He loved spending time with his friends and his family. Norman never met a stranger and always made friends wherever he went. He loved to make people smile, he always said you can go through life with a frown or a smile and a smile was much easier.
The family would like to thank the staff or Hospice of Saint Francis and Avid Home care services who helped Norman though his final days. The family would also like to thank friends and family for their love and support at this solemn time.
A celebration of life service will take place at Wylie Baxley Funeral Home in Merritt Island on Sunday, January 12th , 2020 , at 4 pm. The family will be at the funeral home at 3 pm if others would like to come early. In lieu of flowers, since Norman suffered from Dementia, the family is asking for donations to alzheimer’s association: alz.org/cnfl
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