Jerry 'Pat' Norwood

Jerry "Pat" Norwood, 68, a resident of Talala, Okla., passed away July 13, 2013, at his home in Talala. He was born Nov. 8, 1944, at Watsonville, Calif., the son of Jerry and Jeanne Coleman Norwood. Pat was a 1962 graduate of West Fork High School where he was student council president and class vice-president from 1961 to 1962. He was all district football and played basketball. He was a member of the Friendship 4-H and national winner in 1961. He attended the University of Arkansas. He served in the United States Air Force from 1965 until 1969. He worked for the Federal Aviation Administration as a radar tech where he worked in Fayetteville, Amarillo and Oklahoma City, and was supervisor for 15 years in Tulsa; he retired Jan. 3, 2002. He coached his daughters' softball teams from 1975 to 1982; they won the 1980, 12 and under, state tournament. He bought his first farm in Claremore in 1987 and in 1992 he bought his farm in Talala. Pat loved to farm, build barns, fences, bale hay and work his cows. Pat's favorite pastimes were traveling with friends, teaching his children and grandchildren to water-ski and fishing. Survivors include his wife, Carolyn Masoner of the home; three daughters, Sheri Dulak of Austin, Texas, Tacy Dritt and husband, Dan, of Papillion, Neb., and Nicky Vandergriff and husband, Bo, of San Antonio, Texas; one sister, Lynn Smith and husband, Ken, of West Fork, Ark.; eight grandchildren, Alex and Haley Dulak, Hannah, Isaac, Elliot and Kathryn Dritt and Gwendolyn and Pierce Vandergriff; one nephew, Kenny Smith and wife, Teresa; and one niece, Angie Crihfield and husband, Carl; several cousins; and many friends. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. on Friday, before the service. Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 19, 2013, at the West Fork Baptist Church with Mike Stolz officiating. Burial will be in Friendship Cemetery near West Fork. Pallbearers will be Dan Dritt, Bo Vandergriff, Ken Smith, Kenny Smith, Reggie Higgs and Wayne Hays. Honorary pallbearers will be his grandsons and nephew, Evan Spence.