Glen E. Norris (89) of Crossville, Tennessee passed peacefully from this world on Tuesday, March 8,
2022.
Glen was born in the Linary community to Andrew Jackson and Dollie Lewis Norris on October 30, 1932,
the sixth of seven children. Most of his childhood was spent during the Great Depression. With
encouragement from his sister Cammie, he attended and graduated from Crossville High School in 1951.
He was the recipient of Crossville's first Babe Ruth Citizenship Award and also received an award in
history. He would go on to attend the University of Tennessee, Knoxville where he majored in business
accounting, graduating in 1955. On New Year's Eve, 1955, he married a young lady he first met on a
school bus. Gwendolyn Ann Kerley, the "love of his life," he often said, would be his wife and partner for
the next 66 years.
He and his bride moved to Georgia where Glen served as First Lieutenant in the United States Army.
Upon discharge, he would take up his lifelong career as an accountant, primarily in the textile industry.
The family lived in Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina, and later in Clemson, where his two
daughters were born. Always seeking to get home and closer to family, he accepted a position at
Roselon Southern in 1968 and returned to live in the Homesteads, where he would reside for the rest of
his life. He was an accountant for many years at the Spring City Southern Silk Mill and at one point
owned his own fabric and sportswear stores. Later, he was employed with Crossville Ceramics, retiring
from his position as Comptroller in 1994. He spent his retirement years in wood working, making clocks
in his shop. He was also a successful organic gardener, passing down heirloom seed.
He was a lifelong University of Tennessee sports fan. He always enjoyed watching the Vols play,
particularly football. A season ticket holder, he attended home games in Neyland Stadium for more than
40 years. He never missed a televised game thereafter.
Glen will be remembered for his integrity, his honesty and his strong work ethic ("do the best you can no
matter the job"). He was a devoted and loving husband, a wonderful, caring father and a grandfather
who thought the sun rose and set on his grandkids. A man of "tender heart and humble mind," he will
be forever loved and missed beyond measure.
He is preceded in death by his parents and sisters Louise Music, Mildred Payne, Cammie Smith, Edith Orr
and one brother, James Norris. He is survived by his wife, Gwen. He is also survived by his sister, Marie
Hassler, his daughters Lachelle Norris (Wayne Kelly) and Laura Gwin (Lafayette) and grandchildren,
Chelsea and Dylan. He will be missed by his nieces and nephews.
Services were held on Monday, March 14, 2022 at Hood Funeral Home with burial in Hillcrest Cemetery,
Big Lick. Donations in Glen's memory may be sent to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America
(www.myasthenia.org).
Pallbearers: Lafayette Gwin, Wayne Kelly, Steve Mullinax, Joel Smith and friends.