James Warren Norris

Jim was born December 13, 1928 in Cushing, Oklahoma, the youngest of five, to Esther Gladys Schneider and Marion Ware Norris, a sharecropper. Jim would often sit on the front porch of the family home listening to stories told by his father and grandfather and knew that he wanted to see the world and learn more. He transferred that interest into books and became a voracious reader and eventually a world traveler. He graduated from Ripley High School, Ripley, OK in 1945. He often credited his English teacher Mrs. Margaret Williamson for giving him the language skills he would use throughout his career. He admired her so much so that he started a scholarship foundation at Ripley High School in her name which still exists today. At the age of 16 he graduated from high school and attended several colleges, including the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, and thought he wanted to be an aeronautical engineer, but quickly changed his major to accounting. He graduated from the University of Colorado, with a BS in Accounting in 1949 and from the University of Michigan, with a Master’s in Business Administration (with Distinction), in 1951.

Having been enrolled in the ROTC program during college, in June 1951, he was commissioned as Ensign into the US Navy. While based in Bayonne, NJ, Jim met his wife Joal Madden. Once assigned, he worked as Commissary, Disbursing & Supply Officer on the USS New (DDE818), Escort Destroyer – participating in Operation Mainbrace NATO exercise in Fall 1952; and as LTJG Cost Inspector at Shumaker Naval Ammunition Depot for a year from May 1953 to 1954. He often laughed that he fought the Korean War in the Mediterranean Sea.

After the war, Jim and Joal moved briefly to Camden, Arkansas, then later to Detroit, Michigan, and then to Lake Forest, Illinois, where Jim worked for Arthur Andersen & Co. for 31 years in the capacities of Partner, Managing Partner of the Detroit Office, Member of the Board of Directors, and World Headquarters Partner in Charge of the Professional Education Division. While he was in charge of world-wide training, he lived in Belgium and Switzerland and began his love of travel. Due to Arthur Andersen's presence in almost every country in the world, Jim had the opportunity to visit those offices and develop life long relationships with many of the partners and which he maintained to this day. He was admired and respected for his intellect, high standards, moral ethics and strong leadership qualities and served as a mentor to many within the company. He was passionate about the career he enjoyed with Arthur Andersen, the people he met, the exposure to the many types of businesses he worked with, the various cultures he experienced, and always wanted to learn more.

After retiring from Arthur Andersen, he settled on Longboat Key, and continued working as CEO at Hospital Billing & Collection Services, Ltd. for Lutheran General Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware. He was a member of the Longboat Key Club, a former member of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre and also served on the Parish Council of Holy Name Church in Detroit and the Finance Committee at St. Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic Church on Longboat Key. For many years he was a Board member of the Lamb's Farm in Libertyville, IL, where his son Paul resided. He also served as a volunteer for the Sarasota Guardian Ad Litem Program.

Nothing mattered more to Jim than his faith and his family, and that was demonstrated in the way he lived his life. He loved to engage in conversations about not only his faith, but also his broad life experiences.

Jim is preceded in death by his first wife, Joal; siblings John & Marsena Norris, Marguerite Werner, and Georgia Swigart; and son, Paul Norris. He is survived by his wife of 15 years, Marcia Dennis Norris; children Anne Norris (Greg Trompeter), Susan O’Callaghan (Donnell), and Mary Clohisy (Denis); grandchildren Ryan Connors-Trompeter, Donnell O’Callaghan, III (Alexandra), James O’Callaghan (Rebecca), Brian O’Callaghan (Elizabeth), Amie Hart (Connor), Joal Moriarity (Andrew), Cecilia Hofman (Benjamin), and Denis Clohisy, Jr; and great-grandchildren Donnell O’Callaghan, IV, Saoirse O’Callaghan, Ryleigh O’Callaghan, Brooks O’Callaghan, Reese O’Callaghan, Vera Moriarity, and Paul Moriarity.

Jim's interests included travel, playing the harmonica, and University of Michigan football.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to all of the staff at Plymouth Harbor who cared for Jim in the last year of his life. They have been exceptional in the level of attention, care and love offered to him, and they will always hold a place in our hearts. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Martha's Catholic Church, Sarasota, FL or to the Lamb's Farm, Libertyville, IL, an organization dedicated to helping those with developmental disabilites.

A rosary service for James will be held Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at 6:00 PM at Robert Toale and Sons Funeral Home at Palms Memorial Park, 170 Honore Ave, Sarasota, FL 34232. A visitation will occur Tuesday, January 2, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, 170 Honore Ave, Sarasota, FL 34232. A funeral service will occur Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Saint Martha Catholic Church, 200 N Orange Ave,, Sarasota, FL 34236.