Norman James Norton

Norman J. Norton died on Friday, March 24, 2017 at Palmetto Health Baptist Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina. He was the son of James Harlan Norton and Helen Riley Norton of Cutler, Illinois. His parents, brother Charles, and an infant daughter, Jamie Lynn Norton, preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife, Bettie Greer Norton of Columbia, South Carolina, one son, Matthew J. Norton and his wife Linda of Sullivan’s Island South Carolina and their two children, Matthew Jr, and Michelle, and one daughter, Jane Beach and her husband John Beach of Columbia, South Carolina and their two daughters, Katie and Norrie. A nephew, John Norton of Belleville, Illinois also survives him.

Norm held a B.S. degree from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois and a M.S. and PhD. Degree from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Norm served for four years in the United States Air Force, three years of which was with the United States Security Service in Edinburgh, Scotland. His professional career included twenty years in higher education where he held the positions of Professor of Biology, Chairman of Biology Departments, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty and Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost of the University.

Norm received several awards during his career including the Hope College Distinguished Professor Educator award and the Outstanding Young Scientist award from the Michigan Academy of Arts, Sciences and letters. He was active in several professional societies including the Botanical Society of America and the American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologist, where he was recognized with the Associations Distinguished Service Award. During his career in Higher Education, he also served as a geologic consultant to Gulf Oil Company and in 1983 he joined Gulf as Supervisor of the Palynology Section of the Exploration group. In 1984, Chevron Oil Company bought. Gulf and Norm was transferred as a Staff Geologist to Chevron’s International Company in San Ramon, California. In 1991 he was transferred to Chevron Production Company in Houston, Texas as Supervisor of the Biostratigraphy Section of the Exploration Company. Shortly thereafter he was appointed the Exploration Departments Division Geologist, a position he held until his retirement in 1998.

In 1998, Norm and Bettie moved to Kiawah Island, South Carolina. On Kiawah, he was active in several Community Association committees and was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Kiawah Island Natural Habitat Conservancy, where he chaired the Natural Habitat Conservation Committee and was Vice-Chairman and Chairman of the Conservancy Board of Trustees. Norm was a member of the John Island Presbyterian Church where he chaired a number of Task Forces and Committees and was an Elder on the Church Session. In 2014, the Nortons moved to Columbia, SC.

A private celebration of life will take place at a future date. Memorial donations may be made to the Kiawah Conservancy, 80 Kestral Court, Kiawah Island, SC 29455 or the John's Island Presbyterian Church, 2550 Bohicket Road, John's Island, SC 29455.