Pat Norwood 
It was the morning  of March 19, 1982 when I met Sammy at a 7am Happy Hour with a group of our night-shift coworkers in Phoenix. We hit it off right away and spent the next 3 hours deep in conversation learning all we could about each other; none of that "speed dating" for us! 
Sammy invited me to be his +1 at an upcoming wedding that weekend.  We decided to meet at the reception since we lived on opposite sides of Phoenix. The party was in full swing when I  arrived and so was Sammy. We danced, he was the best dancer, and mingled  with friends after a while we migrated to the kitchen to refresh our drinks. Sammy lifted me up to sit on the counter top, fixed us each a drink,  handed me one, took a pull on his and promptly poured the rest down the front of my dress! My first thought was, "this guy needs a friend!" My next thought was, "and so do I." We left the party, I drove (that's what friends do)and we ended up at Denny's having coffee. That first date lasted over 30 pretty great years. Farewell my Friend, may God speed you on your way.☘

Sam was my half-brother and 14 years older than me. Given the age difference, I never really knew him back home in Ft. Worth, but that changed when we both ended up in Colorado in the mid-1990s. Becoming acquainted with my brother Sam later in life was an unexpected treat! We discovered that we had more in common than I could have imagined. I thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with him, especially over a burger and a beer at Bud’s Café & Bar or on his patio in Sedalia. He was quite a guy, and I am grateful that life brought us together. 

I first met Sam Norwood when I was working at my dad's service station. He came in to buy gas. He was so friendly and cute he caught my eye. He came in to buy gas real often and we got to seeing each other. On our first date he took me to Sammie's BBQ where a lot of Haltom High kids hung out. After that we went to the drive in movie and for the likes of me I couldn't tell you what was playing.

We dated through high school. After graduation I got a job at the Southern Bell and he decided to join the navy. We weren't what you would call exclusive so when he was away I ran into a young man from high school and he wanted to marry me. I knew Sam didn't want to get married so I sent him a letter and told him I was going to marry someone else. Well he sure got on the phone really quick and told me to wait until he got home. I said I would and low and behold he wanted to get married right away.

He could not stay over night with me on our marriage night because of Navy regulations. His superior told him that if they wanted him to marry, they would issue him a wife. Not so funny at the time but I laugh at it now. He was so cute in his Navy uniform. My heart never stopped having butterflies.

The best thing he ever did for me was to give  me 2 wonderful kids, Vicki Baugus and Jeff Norwood. Jeff looked just like his daddy. We were Blessed Beyond Measure. They have been a treasure for us and still are. Those kids are the very Best part of us.

To remember Sam, I just see that great smile and those baby blue eyes. Yes, things were rocky along the way but never did we quit loving. Rest In Peace and find comfort on your new journey. God Bless!

OBITUARY

Sammy L. Norwood

29 December, 1943 – 18 September, 2022

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