NORMAN FORREST WILLIS

Norman Forrest Willis, 73, died Friday, April 29, 2011 while resting peacefully at his home in Apple Valley following a brief fight with cancer. He is survived by his wife Diana, ex-wife Joan, daughter Cindy (her husband David), two sons Jeff (his wife Janet) and Eric (his wife Anna), stepson Brian (his wife Tara), three sisters: Shirley, Carol, and Linda; seven grandchildren, four great grandchildren, neighbors Gary and Naomi, and many close friends and extended family. Norman was born and raised in Barnesville Ohio to Frieda and Floyd Willis. Norman lived and worked in Barnesville (starting at the age of twelve) until he joined the United States Air Force at the age of nineteen. Norman served honorably for twenty years in the USAF and earned the rank of Master Sergeant, and the nickname "Stormin' Norman". Norman traveled the world with the Air Force and eventually found himself and his young family residence at George Air Force Base in Victorville. The High Desert is the place he called home and where he lived and worked for the remainder of his life. After serving with the military, Norman went to work for the Park and Recreation department in Apple Valley. Here, he enjoyed caring for the maintenance needs of the town's parks as well as the Apple Valley School District's pools. After fifteen years of working for the town of Apple Valley, Norman decided to retire and pursue his true passion of woodworking. As a master carpenter, Mr. Willis truly enjoyed crafting both everyday items such as picture frames and gates to the more exotic projects like entertainment centers and hardwood vanities. He took pleasure in constructing each and every project with the same caliber of artisanship that one would find in museum quality pieces. Norman was the type of man that appreciated doing things "the right way" the first time. It is this attitude of integrity and depend-ability that attracted people to Norman, and it is his gentle nature, wisdom, and quick-witted charm that we will miss the most.