Norman T. Hamilton

His length of stride gave away the fact he was raised on a cotton farm, as did his strong work ethic. He was the younger brother to Nathan Albert and a big brother to Darrell Gene. When their dad didn't have them working the cotton fields, the two older boys got into a lot of mischief. There were bruises and even a few black eyes. Darrell, being much younger, spent his time fishing at Uncle Jolly's tank. There were good times and hard times on the farm. While in school, Norman drove the school bus for a year or two in the mornings and afternoons until he dropped out before graduating to work full time.

Norman and Donna met when he almost backed into her in downtown Hollis. He gave her that award winning smile and told her, "I'd back over you for a nickel." Donna wished for a nickel. They dated for a few weeks before he was shipped off to Korea.

Norman was a proud veteran of the United States Army. He began active duty on September 19, 1961 and finished on September 19, 1964; receiving his Honorable Discharge Certificate on October 31, 1967. Most of his military time was spent in Fort Hood Texas, South Korea, and Fort Sill Oklahoma.

Despite the fact Donna had four protective older brothers and one ornery younger one, they resumed dating when Norman returned from deployment and married on October 9, 1964. They began their lives together in Amarillo, Texas before moving to Hollis, Oklahoma in January where he worked as a mechanic.

They were blessed with the birth of a son, Audrey Lance Hamilton, on August 5, 1965. Lance grew up a replica of his Dad, working alongside him on anything and everything that needed to be fixed or tweaked. They could fix anything, from a broken necklace to a broken down old car.

By the time their daughter, Candace Kay Hamilton came along on January 29 1968, Norman was working at the Gypsum Plant in Mangum, Oklahoma. His coworkers all thought he was crazy when he left work on Friday the 26th betting them he wouldn’t be at work on Monday because he "just knew” he was having a daughter and she was going to come early that morning. Little did they know it was a scheduled C-section...but he knew and he had a 50/50 chance on it being a girl. As she grew up, his daddy-do list was as long or longer than his honey-do list...and usually got done first. She was the first little girl whose finger he was wrapped around.

Six months later, they moved to Pampa, Texas where Norman worked in a parts store that provided parts for servicing wells for farmers and Donna did in home babysitting.

In 1972, he began work for Sealed Power Engine Parts Corporation as a salesman and the family moved to Wolfforth, Texas. The job was perfect for his personality. He never met a stranger; if he did meet someone new, he could talk with them for hours and walk away friends. Their hunt for a good family friendly church, with a lot of kids for their children to grow up with, brought them to Greenlawn Church of Christ in Lubbock, Texas where they worshipped for many years.

In 1991, they moved to Kingston, Oklahoma where they planned to retire and build a home.

Norman loved being outdoors and staying busy. A few years later, he retired from Sealed Power and took a job at the Texoma Golf Course mowing the greens. Of course, once they figured out he could fix just about anything you put in front of him, he spent more time in the maintenance shop with the mowers than out riding on them.

Granddaughters Mandy Lace Hamilton and Maci Nicole Hamilton came along on August 16, 1992 and November 3, 1994 respectively. Norman, known now as Grandad, was wrapped around their little fingers. Whether it was summer and the snow cone stand was open or a winter snow and the girls wanted to be pulled in a bucket behind the golf cart, he was agreeable. Many spring breaks, Christmas breaks, and summers were spent having fun at the lake with Grammy and Grandad. But the kids and grandkids didn't follow them to Lake Texoma as they had wished, so they returned to Wolfforth and Greenlawn Church of Christ in 2004. Norman and Donna moved into a house across the street from their daughter and a block away from their son and his family. A beautiful home where there have been many wonderful family gatherings of all sizes.

Great granddaughters, Kambri Sky Cameron and Laci Lane Bearden were born on October 7, 2014 and February 10, 2018, respectively. And once again, Grandad (Norman) was wrapped around little girls' fingers. From Legos to Barbie’s, he was up for anything.

On April 26, 2021, the entire family rejoiced with the addition of twin Bearden boys-Kaden Keith and Kohen Lance. No one was more proud of the new additions than Grandad (Norman).

Norman loved God, family, and country. A faithful servant, husband, father, and friend. He was a man you could always depend on to do whatever he said he would do, and do it well; always willing to lend a helping hand. Whether it was a sick neighbor's yard to mow, a church bus in need of painting, a broken down car to tow and overhaul, a microwave to tweak, or just a necklace to fix-he was your man. No problem was too big or too small, too time consuming or too insignificant. He was a man of integrity and honor. A man who was trustworthy and helpful. A man who kept his word. A man of God. A man who will truly be missed by all of his family and friends.

Norman was preceded in death by his parents, Haskell and Katherine Hamilton; older brother, Nathan Hamilton; younger brother, Darrell Hamilton; and a beloved granddaughter, Maci Hamilton. He leaves behind a legacy of love in his wife, Donna Hamilton; son, Lance Hamilton and his wife, Tonja; daughter, Candace Hamilton; granddaughter, Mandy Bearden and her husband, Matt; two precious great-granddaughters, Kambri Cameron and Laci Bearden; handsome twin great-grandsons Kaden and Kohen Bearden; and numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews.