Norman Gayle Roden

Norman Gayle Roden (Norm) was born in Cleburne, Texas on March 14, 1937, to Luther Columbus and Georgia Betty Roden. He was the last of six children and the only one who was born in a hospital. Norm passed away peacefully at home on August 24, 2025.

Norm grew up on the farm. His family were farmers, and he did all kinds of work including chopping cotton, picking cotton, and bailing hay. He went to school in both Godley and Alvarado, Texas, and graduated from Alvarado High in 1955. Norm participated in sports at Alvarado lettering three years in football while serving as co-captain and earning all-district honors at wide receiver; lettering three years in baseball; and lettering three years in band, serving as president for two years and in his senior year earning all-state honors playing the tuba. He excelled in his studies, being the boy with the highest-grade point average in his senior class plus earning third place in the Johnson County Championship spelling contest. Upon graduation, Norm wanted to enroll in college, but the family did not have sufficient funds. However, due to his band background, he was offered scholarships to North Texas State, Baylor, and Sul Ross College in Alpine, Texas. Norm chose the latter because Sul Ross offered both tuition and room and board, which required less funds.

As Norm left home, his parents drove him to Fort Worth to catch the Greyhound bus. He had $50 in his pocket and bought a ticket to San Angelo. The trip to Alpine was 500 miles, and San Angelo was half way. He did not buy a full ticket because he was reluctant to spend all his money. After he arrived in San Angelo, he hitchhiked the remaining 250 miles to Alpine. As soon as he reached Alpine, he found several jobs which helped him eat and pay for his collegiate needs.

Norm's time at Sul Ross went well, and he graduated in two years and nine months. In his senior year, he was elected most popular boy. While at Sul Ross, he was lucky enough to meet a sweet young lady by the name of Gay who, fortunately for Norm, became his wife. They married on June 12, 1958, and remained in Alpine for several months until Gay finished her degree. During that time, Norm worked for the Texas Highway Department. Upon Gay's graduation, they decided Norm should attend post graduate school. So off they went to Austin for Norm to attend The University of Texas.

While Norm worked on his MBA, Gay taught at Nixon Clay Commercial College and, thankfully, it afforded them money to pay their rent and eat. Norm graduated in 1961 and accepted a job with Continental Oil Company (now Conoco-Phillips) where he worked for 31 years living in nine states and two foreign countries. During that 31 years, Norm and Gay visited foreign lands which they never dreamed they would do. In his last assignment, Norm was Managing Director of Conoco Limited which had operations in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. During all those moves, Gay was ever positive and supportive. And on each move, she worked hard to have a loving home, raise two children, teach school, and keep things ship shape when Norm was out of town on business. Shortly before retirement, Gay spent the better part of two years flying back and forth from London to Texas to supervise the building of Road's End, their retirement home. It was located on 23 acres which they both loved with a house and pool big enough for the whole family, two creeks, a barn, a John Deere tractor and several Longhorn cattle. They lived at Roads End for 14 years until they became too old to handle the work required. While living there, they attended the United Methodist Church in Salado. At the church, Norm served as Chair of the Trustees and Gay served as Chair of the Pastor Parish Relations Committee. Also, when the church was short of operating funds, they both served as janitors of the church for a full year. In fact, Norm and Gay replaced the stained window at the back which reads "In the beginning was GOD." Also, there is a pew which they contributed to the church and has their names on it.

There's nothing more that Norm enjoyed than being with his family. He loved his family and was known to be generous to all. The family consisted of his wife, two children, 6 grandchildren, and later 3 great grandchildren; so, there was a lot to love. He especially enjoyed having a cigar with Trey, talking with Jenny and Gay about Christianity, driving the grandkids around Road's End on his John Deere tractor, or singing the "Happy Birthday" song on everyone's birthday. Norm was proud to be able to call himself a Christian and looks forward to seeing all of you one day in the KINGDOM. In his older age, one of Norm's greatest pleasures was having breakfast at home with Gay. She fed him like a king. Every morning, she asked what he wanted for breakfast. It could be blueberry pancakes, pecan waffles, coffee cake with fruit, eggs over easy, muffins with fruit, etc. Whatever he wanted, Gay fixed it for him, for which Norm was eternally grateful.

Norm loved UT sports. He and Gay had season tickets for both football and basketball for 20 years. They went to football games all over the country and loved every minute of it. Norm was an ex-student, a member of the Longhorn Foundation, and a member of the Chancellor's council. Gay even received her PHTS from Texas while helping Norm finish his degree.

Norm is survived by his loving wife, Gay Deaton Roden; a son and daughter in law, Trey and Julie Roden, of Allen, Texas; a daughter, Jenny Bennett of Georgetown, Texas; six grandchildren, Logan Bennett of Georgetown, Texas; Austin Roden and wife Kate, of Thailand; Addie, and husband Alan Sun of San Francisco, California; Destin Bennett of Austin, Texas; Gus Roden of Allen, Texas; and Sydney Bennett of Houston, Texas; and three great grandchildren, Knox, Blakely, and Ember Roden, all of Thailand. Norm will be buried in Salado, Texas, a place he truly loved.

Norm was preceded in death by his mother and father, three sisters, and both brothers.

A funeral service for Norman will be held Thursday, August 28, 2025 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Salado United Methodist Church, 650 Royal St, Salado, TX 76571. Following the funeral service will be a graveside service from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM at Salado Cemetery, Salado, TX 76571.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to

Rising Star Baptist Church

1055 Texas St

Rockdale, Tx 76567