Burl D. Norrell

Burl D. Norrell, 81, died Thursday, May 8, 2008, at Kearny County Hospital in Lakin.

On July 2, 1926, he was born in Paris, Texas, to Gus Ovid and Lillie Edith Bolton Norrell. He married Bobby Fay Carson on July 9, 1947, at Erick, Okla. She died on Dec. 2, 1986.

He married Patricia Hamilton on Oct. 7, 1989, in Lakin.

He was a member of the Church of Christ in Lakin, Order of Eastern Star No. 3124 in Garden City, Emerald Masonic Lodge No. 289 of Lakin and the National Rifle Association.

His father was a dredge boat captain, and the family traveled in the southern United States while he was growing up. They ended up in the Panama Canal, where he graduated from Balboa High School and Canal Zone Junior College. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and worked at the smelter plant at Shamrock, Texas, after being discharged.

He started working for the Colorado Interstate Gas Co. in 1952 and in 1966, he moved to Lakin for the company and retired as the technical supervisor of communications. He enjoyed outdoor activities, including fly fishing, and reading Westerns, carpentry work, collecting guns and taking pictures.

Survivors include wife, Patricia Norrell, of the home; a son, Bob Norrell, of Cotopaxi, Colo.; two daughters, Bedeanna Richardson Pothuisje, of Lakin, and Burlay Parks, of Sharon Springs; a stepdaughter, Tamera Hamilton, of Meridam, Idaho; a stepson, R. Lee Hamilton, of Cheyenne, Wyo.; five grandchildren; seven stepgrandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife; a sister, Frankie L. Lanphier; and a son-in-law, Jerry D. Richardson.

Funeral is 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Church of Christ in Lakin, with Kenne Whitson officiating. Burial is at Lakin Cemetery.

Visitation is 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at Garnand Funeral Home in Lakin.

Graveside rites by the Garden City Veterans Honor Guard and Emerald Masonic Lodge No. 289.

Memorials are suggested to the Burl Norrell Scholarship Fund at Lakin High School, or Church of Christ in care of Garnand Funeral Home.

Condolences may be sent to garnandfh@sbcglobal.net.