George Bennett Norton

George was born on February 10, 1932, in Chicago, Illinois. His interest in cars, airplanes and anything mechanical led him to enlist into the Army where he served his country as an airplane mechanic during the Korean War. During his time in the military he met his future brother-in-law, Ralph Brose. After his four years in the Army, George took a job at a manufacturing plant in Chicago and trained as a tool and die maker. It was at work that he met the love of his life, Mary Frances Potts. Their courtship led to their marriage on April 9, 1954. They lived in Chicago where their first child, Charlotte, was born.

George built a home for his growing family just north of Chicago in Lake Como Wisconsin. Their second child, George Jr, was born there. George built his new home using one trunk- load of bricks and construction materials every weekend. He worked on their new home on second child, George III., was born while the new house was being built.

While living in Lake Geneva George kept himself busy. He would bring home a basket of parts and that would soon become a motorcycle. He bought a Chris Craft boat that was on the bottom of the Lake Geneva, and he restored the wood (the home bath tub became his workshop for soaking the wood ribs of the boat) and he got the engine purring again. It turned out to be a great boat for the lake. He loved hunting and fishing and made many trips to Colorado for hunting. He even customized a gun for Fran so that it would be more gentle for her. They often took the family on hunting fishing trips to Northern Wisconsin.

He worked evenings and weekends at a Marina in Lake Geneva, and was even offered a partnership in it, but he declined the offer because “he wanted to do it his way”. And so the journey West began. In 1966 he packed up all his family and machinery and moved to Washington State, where his parents were now living, and where his Army buddy, Ralph (who married George’s Sister Laura) now lived.

When George and Fran moved to Washington they had dreams of finding a place to live that had a “postcard view” of the water and the mountains. They did find that place, but it also came with a small family marina called Puget Marina at Johnson’s Point, near Olympia. He moved his family into the old, two room, Post Office Building of Puget. He again worked a fulltime job near Tacoma, and continued working on outboard motors. After 6 months he took on his first dealership with Chrysler Boats. The family all worked together helping customers, launching boats, preparing for the first boat show at the local mall “South Sound Center”. Within the first couple years he received his first award trip to Mexico from Chrysler Boats for high boat sales. More sales awards were to come in future years.

In the following years he also took flying lessons, as this was always a passion and dream. He not only learned to fly but received his instrument rating. He purchased a plane and made many trips with Fran across country. This was one of his fondest memories.

He continued to use his skill as a tool-and-die maker. He was asked by a friend about a need they had to administer anesthetic to patients in third world countries that did not always have electricity. He designed and built a machine that would do this task. He continued to build an incredible business and friendships with customers and worked up to his final days at 89.

George is survived by his wife, Fran Norton, Daughter Charlotte Kienast and her husband Gary, ( his children Tara, Lydia and Kyla) Granddaughter Mandy Wagner, Grandson Sean Wagner and Daughter-in-Law Julie and many nieces and nephews and their families. He left a legacy that will always be in our hearts.

While we miss him deeply, we rest assured that he is enjoying the presence of His Lord and Savior.