M. Byron Norrell Jr.

M. Byron Norrell, Jr, born March 17, 1948 in Dallas, TX, born to Myrle Byron Norrell and Elizabeth Crocker returned to the loving arms of the Lord on April 3, 2014, after a long battle of different illnesses and his latest diagnosis of lung cancer in February. Byron moved to Phoenix in 1961. He entered the Marine Corps at the age of 17 to fight for freedom of his country in Vietnam. He was in Hue city when the Tet Offense hit in 1968. Byron received two Purple Hearts after being wounded. Many years he was active with the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 432. He was also one of the founders of the Purple Heart Chapter 790, Scottsdale, held several key positions within the Purple Heart organization. He helped create the Vietnam Veterans State Council, and established the All Veterans Picnic that helped unite veterans around the Phoenix metro area for many years, going door-to-door asking for donations to support the picnic. Byron was also actively involved with the Marine Corps league. He was a proud Eagle Scout. In 1997 he married the love of his life, which he met in Linz, Austria Martina Beate Block of Frankfurt, Germany and brought her back to Phoenix, Arizona. Byron loved to travel all over Europe as well as across the United States and Mexico visiting historical sites and enjoyed the outdoors; hiking, fishing, and shooting. He also had great joy with everything related to aviation and took many scenic trips on a variety of aircrafts and flew model airplanes as a hobby. When not busy planning the next road-trip Byron enjoyed having his family and friends around. He is survived by his wife Martina Beate Norrell of Glendale, AZ, his three sons Michael Byron Norrell and his bride Shannon of Appleton, WI, his son Steven Vincent Norrell of Peoria, AZ, his son Jeffery DeWitt Norrell and wife Martha of Phoenix, AZ, and his daughter Ailine Norrell-Such and husband Chris of Glendale, AZ, his grandchildren Jade, Jacob, Justin, Nicholas, Jesus, Sebastian and his sunshine Kevin, his two sisters Jeanette Vickery and Laurie Goodson of Paris, TX .Good night Marine, Semper fi, so long my Love.

Services will be held at the Arizona National Veterans Cemetery on April 14, 2014 at 9:30 am, please dress in western wear or patriotic attire; this is a celebration of Byron’s life and to honor his military accomplishments. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Boy Scouts of America Grand Canyon Council, the American Cancer Society, or Vietnam Veterans of America.