Norman Davis Roe

Norman was born on June 7th, 1938 in San Angelo, TX, the son of Rev. Allen Gordon Roe and Jane Davis Roe.

Norman graduated from H.M. King High School in Kingsville, TX in 1956, then, following a family tradition, went on to Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX, earning a degree in English and soon after spent a year as a Danforth scholar at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. He then received his Masters of Divinity at SMU’s Perkins School of Theology in Dallas, TX, and later spent a semester at Union Seminary in New York City.

Norman met Margie Mae McCreless at Southwestern University and they were married on June 18th, 1965 at First United Methodist Church in Fort Worth, TX, with Norman’s father, Rev. Allen Roe, officiating. Norman and Margie were able to celebrate their 60th (!) wedding anniversary this June with a toast of ginger ale. Norman and Margie have two sons, Jonathan McCreless Roe (born 1967) and Matthew Martin Roe (born 1969). They have four grandchildren, Davis Rigby Roe (1999), Mary Shannon Roe (2002), William Elias Cryar Roe (2003) and Alena Mae Cryar Roe (2005).

Norman was an ordained United Methodist Minister and served many United Methodist Churches in Texas – Combs-Santa Rosa in his beloved Rio Grande Valley, Austin, La Grange, Corpus Christi, Mason, San Angelo, San Antonio, Brady, and Universal City. He officially retired in 2000, but Norman couldn’t stop preaching and meeting new people as he would jump at any chance to fill in as interim pastor at United Methodist churches in the Austin/San Antonio area well into his 70s. He performed countless weddings and funerals, gave speeches, and taught Sunday School classes over the years, even after retirement.

Norman was a literary and history scholar, who was always reading theology or biographies, usually finishing the books in a matter of days. He was an amazing musician and singer, playing almost any musical instrument he took up by ear, mainly guitar, piano, and bass. He was a natural athlete who always swore that he invented the “alley oop” basketball play when he played for King High in the 1950s, and he played competitive tennis up until his late 70s. Norman was one of the smartest people many of us knew and would probably have been the first-choice “phone a friend” had any of us ever made it on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.” But modern technology confounded and frustrated the heck out of him, understandably. He never once sent a text message and hated his smart phone with a passion. He loved playing and watching sports, and was always active and fit. He even coached his sons’ little league baseball and football teams when duty called. If he was within a day’s drive, he would never miss a game or recital of his kids or grandkids. He always rooted for the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, San Antonio Spurs, and all Texas Longhorn sports. When none of those teams were in the championship games, he would resort to rooting for the team that was located in the US Central Time Zone (the best time zone).

Norman was known for his knowledge of all kinds of trivia, particularly sports trivia. He could name the world series champions for every year and the player who made the last out to end the series, which came in handy if he or anyone around him had trouble falling asleep. He was always extremely frugal with money and concerned about the environment, so being able to save both by turning off lights or air conditioning gave him extreme satisfaction.

Over the years, Norman fought off serious conditions like appendicitis, rheumatic fever, prostate cancer, colon cancer, double-bypass heart surgery, intestinal adhesions, and finally Parkinson’s – never giving up and always following rehab orders exactly as prescribed.

Norman and Margie enjoyed a little cabin in Estes Park, Colorado, next to Rocky Mountain National Park. He spent many summer days climbing the peaks there with his sons and friends. Margie’s parents built the cabin and now the Roe grown grandkids are enjoying bringing their friends there.

Remaining to cherish Norman’s memory are wife, Margie; children, Jonathan and Matthew; grandchildren, Davis, Mary, Eli, and Lena; sister, Glenda Seamons; brother, Rev. Grady Roe; daughter-in-law, Emily Roe; and several nieces and nephews.

Preceding Norman in death are his parents, Rev. Allen and Jane Roe; and brother, Rev. Gordon Allen Roe.

A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 19th at 1:00 PM at University United Methodist Church (2409 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78705), with Rev. Teresa Welborn officiating.

Memorial donations in Norman’s memory may be directed to favorite philanthropies, especially those benefiting the environment