Will Track Norris (1871-1923)

NORRIS, REAGAN, RAGEN, POST, MILLER, DAWSON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:12

From Nevada Evening Journal November 16, 1923 (page 1)

BILLY NORRIS DIED SUDDENLY WHILE ON REGULAR JOB

IN RAILWAY YARDS LOOKING AFTER UNLOADING HAY AS FATAL STROKE CAME.

Will T. Norris, 53, died very suddenly Thursday afternoon at 3:30, at his home on First street from a stroke of apoplexy suffered four hours previously, as he was driving through the Northwestern railway yards looking after some business matters.

The funeral services will be held from the home Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock, after which interment will be in the Nevada cemetery.

The news of the death of Billy Norris came as great shock not only to his family, but to the people of the community who had seen and talked with him but a few hours before in passing.

While Mr. Norris had not been well for some years, being a sufferer from asthma, high blood pressure and other complications, he had been able to be out and about his business. He had been down town during the forenoon an at the time that he suffered the stroke was in the railway yards looting after the unloading of a couple of carloads of hay that he just received.

He started down the line driving his faithful old horse when he suffered the stroke and fell from the buggy. The horse wandered on a few feet and attracted the attention of men working at the Nevada Poultry company plant. They picked him up, placed him in his buggy and took him home arriving there about 12:00.

A physician was called and was there very promptly. It was realized instantly that the end was near.

His daughter, Mrs. George Post, who lives near Clear Lake, was summoned and she and Mr. Post made a speedy trip down, arriving at the bedside of the father a half hour before he passed on, but consciousness never returned that he might recognize the daughter.

"Billy" Norris was a man known to a wide circle of people over central Iowa. Few people were in the county who came to Nevada often but who knew and recognized him and he had many friends in the other parts of the state also.

Born in Illinois 53 years ago August 4 last, he came to Iowa with his parents Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Norris when a small boy. The family lived on a farm south of Colo for a time after which they moved to Nevada and this has been his home continuously since.

He leaves by his untimely death his wife who was Miss Belle Ragen as a girl, one daughter, Mrs. George Post, a beloved grandchild little Eva Post, one brother C. V. Norris of Ames and two sisters Mrs. Belle Miller of Chicago and Mrs. Rose Dawson of Des Moines.

Mr. Norris was a man of many fine characteristics under his sometimes rough exterior. He was a wonderful husband and father, a friend always faithful and true and man with a heart in him that ever responded to the call of the best toward a friend.

His death is deeply mourned by his family and the loved ones left behind will receive the warm sympathy of a wide circle of friends.