Jack Norton

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend, died peacefully March 24, 2015, just shy of his 90th birthday.

Jack Norton was born March 28, 1925 in Panguitch, Garfield, Utah.  Jack's parents William Taylor Norton and Elsie Dean Smith had nine children with Jack being the 7th child.  Jack was known for his desire to take care of everyone, having his first 'real' job at age ten, cutting hay to feed pigs for which he received a nickel a day to help his family.  He has never stopped taking care of others.

When Jack was 16 years old, he claimed he was 18 so that his sister Lola was able to find him a job at Kennecott copper mine in Bingham Canyon, a long term career until he retired in 1985 at the age of sixty.

Sylvia Marshall Norton remembers Jack as tall, dark and handsome with thick wavy black hair.  He was very shy, something he must have overcome because his grandchildren knew him as loud and fun.  Jack and Sylvia were married on May 25, 1943 at 18 years old, Jack was too young to get married without permission but he was old enough to go to war.   When they went to get their marriage license the judge would not marry them unless they paid a fee and married immediately.  They were so shocked they were married so quickly, and were not sure what to do next so they went and saw a movie!

Jack went into the Navy January 22, 1944 during World War II.  He served on the Battleship North Carolina in the Pacific Theater where they were engaged in every major naval offensive in the Pacific.

Jack was larger than life; John Wayne had nothing on him.  He could do anything, was stronger than an ox, and a hard worker.  He could easily be his own tall tale, from stories of getting more things accomplished before most people woke up in the morning to building a cabin with his own hands.  He could build anything, fix cars and make handcrafted jewelry and art sculptures.  He was not one to sit still long, but enjoyed western movies and novels when he did.  He loved to fish, hunt and take his trailer all over the United States.  All loved him, because he was so loving, kind and generous.  He never tired of watching the great grandchildren play, or getting involved in their play making them giggle and laugh.

Jack was a very devoted husband to Sylvia and dearly loved by his children and grandchildren.  Having two children, a son, Craig Norton, who passed before him and a daughter, Shellie.  He is survived by one sister Beth, six grandchildren and their spouses, 14 great-grandchildren, plus two more on the way!  His honorable service in WWII is a legacy that has been passed down to some of the younger men in the family who have also sacrificed so much to serve in the military.  Jack will be dearly missed by his wife of nearly 72 years, and by all who knew him.  Throughout his life he has been a blessing to his family and we will all miss him.

Funeral Services at Goff Mortuary, March 30, 2015: viewing at 1:00 pm, service at 2:00 pm.  Interment at Sandy City Cemetery.