Chief Billy Glen Norris Sr.

Chief Billy Glen Norris, Sr.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Chief Billy Glen Norris, Sr. will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 24, 2014 at St. Martin Catholic Church, Lecompte, with Rev. Scott Chemino, Rev. Adam Travis and Rev. Rickey Gremillion officiating. Interment will be at Alexandria Memorial Garden under the direction of John Kramer & Son.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at the funeral home and again from 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. at the funeral home on Thursday, 24, 2014. A visitation will be held at St. Martin Catholic Church from 10:00 a.m. until time of service on Thursday, July 24, 2014. Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at the funeral home.

Chief Billy Glen Norris, Sr., 62, of Lecompte passed away on Monday, July 21, 2014 at CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital.

Billy is preceded in death by his parents: Waddie, Sr and Vera Nixon Norris; brother, Waddie Norris, Jr.; paternal grandparents, Hale and Willie Norris; maternal grandparents, Uley and Sula Nixon; father-in-law, Robert Basco, Sr.; mother-in-law, Dolores Dunn Basco; sister-in-law, Marilyn Johnson Basco.

Billy was raised in Cheneyville, La. He attended Rapides High School where he excelled in track by setting numerous track records. Billy loved to hunt and fish. Billy met the love of his life, Catsy, in June of 1972 and they were married for 41 years. The love of Billy's life was his wife, children and grandchildren. Billy served the Lecompte Volunteer Fire Department since 1992 and loved his job. He helped establish the 2nd fire station in 2000 and became chief in 2002. The 2nd fire station was named "Mawmaw Basco" Station #2 after Billy's mother-in-law, Dolores Dunn Basco. Billy also was President and Treasurer of the Rapides Parish Firefighters Association. Billy also worked for Holsum Bakery.

In a letter to the family, Rev. Bruce Miller wrote:

Billy will be greatly missed not only by a very close-knit immediate and extended family but a very tight community including not only his own volunteer fire department but also those of the region and beyond. He is widely known, as well in the law enforcement community. He was a very dedicated and hard worker in Lecompte and in St. Martin Parish. He worked hard to obtain AED's and other rescue and fire equipment, all important items for the community. He also serviced the poor and elder in various ways. He was responsible for the monthly distribution of food delivered to him on the side of I-49 by the Archdiocese of New Orleans, for instance. Years ago the whole community rallied behind him and his family after each of his accidents that ultimately left him "disabled." I never saw his severe hand injuries stop him for a minute, however. He did not know the word "can't." And he did not complain himself. He pushed for better equipment for the community at every opportunity. He will be greatly missed by his family, community, and unsung firefighter heroes.

Those left to cherish Billy's memory include his wife, Cathy "Catsy" Basco Norris; 3 children, Hope Norris Hubbard (Vance) of Effie, La., Melinda Norris Monroe of Lecompte, La., Billy Glen Norris, Jr. of Lecompte, La.; 3 siblings, Rebecca Norris Juneau of Bunkie, La., Bobby Ray Norris, Sr. (Geraldine) of Coushatta, La., Rhonda Norris Henry of Coushatta, La.; 4 grandchildren, Caleb Hubbard, Madeline Monroe, Mitchell Hubbard and Kara Hubbard; 4 brother-in-laws, Robert Stanley Basco, Jr., Stephen Basco (Barbara Ann), Richard Basco (Stephanie) and Randall Basco, Sr. (Sherri) along with numerous nieces, nephews and brothers and sisters in the Fire Service.

Pallbearers honored to serve will be Ryan Spiller, David Harrell, Chris Polakovich, Jason Francis, Michael Hanks, Cody Cloessner, Joey Liotta and Roger Ramos.

Honorary Pallbearers will be all active and retired Fire Chiefs, Law Enforcement Officers and Public Safety Professionals.

The Norris family would like to extend thanks to Acadian Ambulance and the staff of CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Emergency Room and ICU staff.

Special thanks to Captain Roy Waters for all his dedication and friendship throughout the years.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations sent to the Rapides Parish Fire Fighters Association Bell Fund at 5104 Ransbottom Drive, Alexandria, La. 71302.

To extend online notes of condolences to the Norris family, please visit www.kramerfunerals.com.