James Darcy Norton

James Darcy Norton, 54, passed away unexpectedly on December 4, 2024, in Midlothian, Texas. Survived by daughters Lexis & Faith Norton; mother and stepfather Peg & Ralph Walker; sister and brother-in law Marne & Ted Autobee; nephews Dylan Milyard, Alex Milyard, and Jesse Autobee; nieces Mariah & Julia Autobee; best friend and "brother" Eddie Acuna; numerous cousins, friends and business colleagues; and his beloved dogs Miles & Chloe. Preceded in death by father, James Henry (Jim) Norton; maternal grandparents Robert & Evelyn Finger and Blair Knapp; and paternal grandparents William & Wanda Norton.

James was born in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, on August 27, 1970, and grew up in Arvada, Coal Creek Canyon, Grand Junction, and Pueblo, Colorado. James graduated from Centennial High School in Pueblo in 1989 where he excelled in football, baseball, and powerlifting. He attended Trinidad State Junior College and the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley on baseball scholarships, graduating in 1993 with a major in Mass Communications. James started his career working for various railroads including the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway, Union Pacific, Kansas City Southern Railway, and Burlington Northern Santa Fe. He transitioned to working in the oil and gas, aggregate mining, and trucking industries throughout Texas and other southern states. He also served as an independent business consultant. He lived in Texas to be close to his daughters, whom he loved more than life itself, but his heart always remained in Pueblo.

Over the years, James volunteered with the Special Olympics, the United Way, and other charity organizations. He fed the homeless and helped anyone who was in need, making friends wherever he went. James served as a volunteer little league baseball coach and personally trained many high school athletes. He was an early seller of Academia (now Akadema) baseball equipment, using his love of baseball coupled with his charisma to sell custom-made gloves and bats. The ultimate sportsman, James maintained friendships with former coaches Tom Brockman, Dave Dudley, and Nino Giarratano who cultivated his passion for football and baseball.

Always the life of the party, James enjoyed reuniting with his high school friends whenever he was home in Pueblo. His smile was as bright as his personality, clothing, jewelry and sunglasses. He loved his mom's Swedish meatballs, pranking his sister, sharing inside jokes with Jesse and Ted, and weekly, sometimes daily, calls and text messages with Eddie. James' favorite place was on the water, especially at Eagle Mountain Lake in Texas.

A celebration of life will take place on Friday, January 17, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Imperial Gardens, 5450 CO Highway 78, Pueblo, CO 81005. The family asks that those attending wear the color red in honor of James' Bulldog pride. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a donation in James' name to a charity of your choice.