Clark Buchner Norman, 92, formerly of El Dorado AR, died December 8, 2017, in Woodstock GA. After a long courageous battle with Alzheimer’s he passed peacefully into God’s loving arms with family by his side.
Born in 1925 and raised in El Dorado during the oil boom and Great Depression, he grew up loving to hunt, fish, shoot craps, swing dance, and “Call the Hogs”. He was affectionately called “Little Pots” by his childhood friends- nicknamed after his older brother, Jim (who was known simply as “Pots”). After graduation from El Dorado High School and upon the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the US Navy. He served in the Pacific Theater during WWII as a Seabee attached to a Marine Division on the islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Okinawa. After the war he attended the Univ. of Arkansas and the Univ. of Oklahoma. He then returned to El Dorado and joined his father at the El Dorado Lumber Company where he met his wife Betty. He went on to serve as President of the El Dorado Lumber Company until he retired in 2012 (at age 87!), and the business closed, having been in operation for 106 years.
Those of his generation have been called America’s “Greatest Generation”. If you were fortunate enough to know Clark, you know that he embodied all the qualities and strength of character that made this such a befitting title. He was kind, humble, selfless, supportive and caring. He was honest, strong, hard-working, and always willing to help others in need. He also had a wonderful dry sense of humor and was quick with a smile. But most importantly, he was full of love. He loved his family, his friends, his community, and above all he loved The Lord.
Clark was born August 27, 1925, in El Dorado, AR. He was the son of Harold H. and Charlotte M. Norman. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife, Betty, and his beloved older brother, James M. Norman. Survivors include his son, Walter Norman of El Dorado, AR; twin daughters, Mary (Terry) Morin of Canton, GA, and Terry (Lee) Smith of Makawao, HI; four grandchildren, Colin (Emily) Morin, Taylor (Lindsey) Morin, Brandon Smith, and Ally Smith; and great-granddaughter, Adalynn Morin.
Memorial services will be held at 2:00pm Saturday, March 24, 2018, at First United Methodist Church, 201 S. Hill Ave., El Dorado AR, with Rev. Keith Dodson officiating. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery under the direction of Young’s Funeral Directors.
The Norman family would like to extend our gratitude to the staff at Camellia Place in Woodstock, GA and to the nurses and aids with Homestead Hospice in Cartersville, GA for their attentiveness and loving care.
Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 201 S. Hill Ave., El Dorado AR 71730; or Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, 110 East 42nd Street, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10017.
An online guest registry will be available at www.youngsfuneralhome.com.