Norman N. Highley

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Norman N. Highley, 77, Nevada, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013, at Mercy Hospital, Fort Scott, Kan., following a two-year battle with pulmonary fibrosis. He was born Dec. 31, 1935, in Montevallo, Mo., to James M. Highley and Gertie Ann Rapp Highley. He married Joyce Henry on July 5, 1953, in Olympia, Mo., and she survives of the home.

In 1951, in the front seat of a 1939 Chevy car, Norman was saved. In 1959, he told his call to preach, and he became an ordained minister in 1960. During more than 50 years of preaching the Gospel, he traveled throughout Missouri and in Kansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Idaho, and Montana. He served as pastor for 12 churches: Since 2002, Brother Norman served as missionary for the Cedar County Missionary Baptist Association. He was an organizing member of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Nevada, Mo. For many years, Norman and his son Kenny were partners in Highley Tire Center. He retired in 2000 after working several years at the Stockton, Mo., store. After which, he enjoyed his flowers, garden, and wood-working shop.

In addition to his wife Joyce, survivors include five children, Patricia Bobbett and her husband, Rick, Nevada, Kenny Highley and his wife, Linda, Nevada, Glenda Todd and her husband, Frank, Loma Linda, Mo., Sherri Fleming and her husband, Nigel, Nevada, and Lori Yokley and her husband, Ron, Moundville; grandchildren, Tiffany and Bryan Crawford, Joshua and Renea Highley, Jordan Highley, Jenna Highley, Daniel Fleming, Randall and Billie Yokley, Ryan and Caryn Yokley, Sarah and Justin Hancock; 11 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Virginia Summervill, Bonner Springs, Kan., Marjorie Turner, Milo, Evelyn Oliver, Seattle, Wash.; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by three sisters, Helen Burris, Rosila Rowland and Gertie Ann Highley; six brothers, Everrett Frazier, Roy Frazier, James Highley, Alvie Highley, Orvan Highley, and Ural Highley.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 9, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, with the Revs. Kenny Mallard and Jerry Grant officiating. Interment will follow at Olive Branch Cemetery, Milo. Friends may call now and until the hour of service and the family receives friends from 7-8 p.m., today, Jan. 8, at the funeral home.

Contributions may be made to the Cedar County Missionary Baptist Association in care of Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.

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