Norris Lynn Bruff, Age 76, of Lakeland, Tennessee passed away on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 after a brief battle with cancer. Norris was born in Bradford, Tennessee on August 16, 1948 but has lived in Memphis most of his life. He graduated from Bartlett High School in 1966 and went on to take college courses in marketing at the University of Memphis, then known as Memphis State University. After serving in the Navy on the USS Bon Homme Richard aircraft carrier during the Vietnam War he returned to Memphis to work with his stepfather at Russann Lumber Company. In 1976, Norris decided to open his own Retail Lumber business which he named Chickasaw Lumber & Supply Co. He truly loved sales and all that it entailed.
In 1973 he met and married Glenda Ailene Haggard. Together they had two sons, David & Morgan Bruff. Work and family were Norris’ life. He also enjoyed all sports and loved fall football, summer baseball, especially the St. Louis Cardinals, as well as University of Memphis Tigers basketball.
In 2014, after thirty-eight years in the lumber business, Norris decided to retire since by that time David & Morgan were running the business. However, he stayed involved by helping with ordering, working on a truck or forklift or giving business advice, when asked, on every topic relating to lumber or equipment. His favorite saying was “You can’t sell off an empty cart.” Beginning in April, this year, he began going to the lumber yard less frequently leading up to his diagnosis of liver cancer on May 30 this year.
Norris is preceded in death by his father, Jamie Lorell Bruff of Union City, Tennessee, his mother, Myrtle Evelyn Wakefield of Memphis, a sister, Joanne Rinks of Memphis and a nephew, Keith Dotson of Wake Forest. North Carolina.
Norris is survived by his wife, Glenda Haggard Bruff, a sister, Lynda Joyce Dotson of Fayetteville, Arkansas, a brother, John Walker Wakefield (wife Pam) of Memphis, two sons, David Bruff & Morgan Bruff (wife Lauren), three grandchildren all of Memphis and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers please donate to Great Oaks Church of Christ (designate for Donelson Rd. Church plant) or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
A visitation for Norris will be held Saturday, July 26, 2025 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 North Germantown Parkway, Bartlett, TN 38133. A funeral will occur Saturday, July 26, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, 3700 North Germantown Parkway, Bartlett, TN 38133. A graveside services will occur Saturday, July 26, 2025 from 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM at Memory Hill Gardens, 3700 North Germantown Parkway, Bartlett, TN 38133.
Full obituary to be posted soon.
