Robert Lee Norris

Bob was born on August 13, 1933, in El Dorado, Arkansas, to Floyd Wilson “Ted” Norris and Birdie Lee Norris. He and his family later moved to Homer, Louisiana, where he completed his middle and high school education, and more importantly, where he met Margaret Corinne Austin at the First Baptist Church in Homer. They began dating his senior year and her freshman year of high school and continued until they got married on March 30, 1956.

Bob graduated from Louisiana Tech with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. Upon graduation, he was hired by Exxon Mobil as a chemical engineer. While he worked in the Exxon building in downtown Houston, Texas, he and Margaret made their home in Baytown, Texas. Baytown is where all three of Bob and Margaret’s daughters were born and where he and Margaret found a community of faith and friends at the First Baptist Church. First Baptist Baytown is where Bob faithfully served for many years as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, choir member, and head of various committees. Bob had a huge love for God’s creation and the outdoors and was an avid bird watcher and an enjoyer of backpacking trips to Big Bend, the Grand Canyon and various other places mostly in Texas. He also was the planner of many vacations where he took his family to experience the beautiful country in which they lived. After 39 years of service to Exxon Mobil, Bob retired, and he and Margaret moved to New Braunfels, Texas. There they found a community of faith at First Baptist New Braunfels where he, alongside Margaret, continued to serve the Lord. In retirement, Bob continued his passion for bird watching by recording birds seen in Central Texas and writing a few articles for Texas Parks & Wildlife. He continued his love for traveling as he and Margaret traveled to various places such as Switzerland, Australia and Alaska. He also continued his passion to plan as he spearheaded many Senior Adult trips through First Baptist New Braunfels and was the Chairman of their Building Committee at the age of 80.

Bob was known as an incredible husband, father, grandfather, friend and neighbor to all who encountered him. He was a simple man who loved the Lord and those around him, and he led his family to do the same. He adored Margaret and served her so faithfully for over 70 years. He was known as Big Dad to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and he loved each of them so dearly – always being present in their lives, attending as many events of theirs as he could alongside Margaret. His health allowed him to attend an event of a great granddaughter and great grandson at the age of 91.

Bob’s daughter, Laura Bailey, preceded him in death in May of 2020. He is survived by his beautiful wife, Margaret, and his two daughters and son-in-laws, Linda and Don Eddleman and Marcia and Robert Turner. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Shayne & Kaysie Eddleman, Rhea & Peter Kroll, Kristen & Jeremy Clements, Khyle & Chris Flory, Lauren & Trevor Nikrant and Timothy & Nicole Turner, and his eleven great-grandchildren. Each loved him immensely and will miss him more than words can express.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 11:00am at The Wesleyan Independent Living in Georgetown, Texas, in the Hewlett Room (east building).

The family is requesting that any donations in memory of Bob be made to the APDA Parkinson’s Foundation at https://www.apdaparkinson.org/ or to Texas Parks and Wildlife at https://tpwd.texas.gov/business/donations/