Lee E. NorrisMENTONE - Lee E. Norris, 89, of rural Mentone, Ind., passed at 4:12 a.m. Monday, May 20, 2019, at his residence.
He was born on Nov. 2, 1929, in Mentone, to Samuel N. and Dora F. Boyer Norris.
He was married on March 6, 1955, in Mentone, to Norene J. Bibler. She survives.
Lee was a farmer and a businessman. In 1965, he started his own business, Lee E. Norris Construction and Grain Company Inc., which specialized in designing and selling industrial and agricultural dryers. Through the years, that business would become Norris Thermal Technologies Inc. of Tippecanoe, where four generations of his family have worked.
He graduated from Beaver Dam High School in 1947. He served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War in artillery guidance. He was very active in the Mentone First Baptist Church. He served the church as Sunday school superintendent, trustee, deacon, a teacher and a youth leader. He also served the community on the Tippecanoe Valley School Board from 1978 to 1982. Lee was honored as a Distinguished Alumni of the Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation in 2016.
He began riding motorcycles at the age of 66 and was a lifetime member of the Christian Motorcyclists Association and had been a member for 21 years. Additionally, he was a lifetime member of the National Chapter and the former Wabash Chapter of the Harley Davidson Owners Group. He traveled to every state on his motorcycles.
He and his wife celebrated 64 years of marriage on March 3 with 51 family member in attendance.
He is survived by wife, Norene Norris of Mentone; daughters, Connie S. Hunsberger (Mick Bowers) of Mentone; Cynthia Jo Miller of Claypool, and Angela Lea Butler (Jeff Mesaros) of Syracuse, Ind.; sons, Daniel (Dawn) Norris of Mentone and Aaron (Nicole) Norris of Mentone; 14 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by parents, Samuel and Dora Norris; sister, Lillie Rookstool; brother, Robert D. Norris; and son-in-law, Brooks Butler.
Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 23 at the Mentone First Baptist Church.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Friday, May 24 at the church with the Rev. Michael Wilhite and the Rev. George Shoemaker officiating.
Burial will be at Mentone Cemetery, Mentone, with graveside military rites being performed by the Warsaw American Legion.
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Memorials to Christian Motorcyclists Association or the Mentone First Baptist Church.
Share a memory or send an online condolence at www.hartzlerfuneralservices.com.
