Norma Jean Smith Bogle

Norma Jean Smith Bogle, age 86 of East Nashville, passed away may 28, 2025. Norma cherished every member of her extended and blended family and was cherished in turn by them. A single mother of 4 early in life, she protected her family intensely and worked tirelessly to provide for them.
She was very well known in the East Nashville community as the proprietor of the Dusty Roads Bar on Woodland Street; later relocated to Main St. Both locations of her little honky-tonk were used by Alan Jackson, Ray Charles, Sweethearts of the Rodeo and others to record country music videos. Many a down on his/her luck would be crooner found a meal at Norma's table as did lots of downtown Nashville's homeless. She did not suffer fools lightly and expected everyone to respect everyone else. Trouble makers were well advised to seek their folly elsewhere. More than a few found themselves led to the door by the ear where they were unceremoniously dumped on the sidewalk with the admonition to not return. Ultimately the city of Nashville took over the properties housing the Dusty Roads by imminent domain and she made her way to Cardwell's Market (later Daily's) on Hermitage Ave. where she served the same downtown Nashville clientele for the next 20 years.
For much of her early life she dreamed of living in one of the beautiful regentrified neighborhoods in East Nashville and in 1995 she realized that dream when she purchased the home on Fatherland St. where she lived for the remaining 30 years of her life and where lifelong memories were made by her and family.
Norma is preceded in death by her son, Victor Wayne Bogle. She is survived by her children, Debbie (Horace) Hamilton, Sherrell (David deceased) Blankenship, and Darrell Bogle; grandchildren, Jason, David, Nicki (Luke), Jenny (Joshua), Victor (Paydn), Dustin (Olivia), and Jessica (Brandon); great-grandchildren, Reece, Reagan, Landon, Aubrey, Kailynn, Elizabeth, Ethan, Audrey, Isaiah, Logan, Garrett, Wilder, Mckinley, Landon, Logan, and Asher; dearest friend and mother of Nicki, Jenny and Victor, Janemarie (Tim) Hill.