Dana Leon Norton

Dana L. Norton was born September 20, 1939 to Leonard Eugene Norton and Rosemary Virginia Young Norton. He is survived by sisters Ona Elizabeth Severe of Eureka Springs, Arkansas and Tari Suzanne Long of Dyersburg, Tennessee; sons Alan Dean and David Michael; grandchildren Dana Kay, Christopher, Chelsea, Carter, Mackenzie and great-grandchildren Alexis and Josiah. He is also survived by some ex-wives and Diane, his best friend of many years. Diane and Dana had a longtime understanding that when he began to drool and wander, she was to call Alan and David for his final move to a home.

After two years at Central State College and a 1.7 GPA his first employment as an adult was as a bricklayer’s assistant, then as a rough-in carpenter. Those two jobs resulted in his understanding that a college education might be worthwhile. He completed his education, mostly at night at OCU while working his first corporate job. After a career as a technician and manager at IBM that lasted from 1961 to 1981, he changed employment and spent two years in another bureaucracy-laden computer business called STC. His insistence on having a good time and his habit of being frank finally got him fired. That was, as has been frequently said, the best thing that ever happened to him. His father, Leonard, and a number of other longtime Appraisers taught him the profession. The rest of his working life was spent navigating self-employment in the real estate appraisal business. He died knowing that he had made a number of worthy enemies, but had a very good time, made a number of good friends and was able to limit his exposure to bureaucrats.

He participated in a Saturday morning discussion group for something more than forty years, honing his debating skills and developing his politically conservative beliefs. He loved his family, his friends and his country.

And, he wanted you to know that Dana is not necessarily a girls name.

Dana L. Norton wrote this obituary.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at Bill Eisenhour Funeral Home Southeast Chapel, Del City, Oklahoma. Arrangements under the direction of Bill Eisenhour Funeral Home, Del City, OK.