Norman Eugene Patrick

Norman Eugene Patrick, after 92 years of life filled to the brim with a love of God, family, community, church, hunting, fishing, and “just one more round” of golf, passed away in the early morning of September 21, 2025.

Norman was born to Bonnie [Esry] and Cecil Patrick on February 5, 1933. His birth came on the heels of the devastating loss of an older brother, and as such, their devotion and love to him was immense; a love and devotion reciprocated to each of them as the decades passed. His childhood was marked by idyllic days of boyhood pursuits with his best friend, Bill Green, memories which he would recall even when most of his memory had been lost to Lewy Body dementia. He was an incredibly adept dancer, and his enjoyment for such led him to cross the dance floor with a certain young woman at The Wayside Inn. On December 1, 1957, in Keytesville, MO, he married Mary Jean Foster. Theirs would be a dance encompassing nearly 63 years before her passing in July 2019.

Norman graduated from high school and enlisted in the United States Navy in January 1952 at St. Louis, Missouri. He went to boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois, and was then transferred to the Amphibious Base at Coronado, California. He was then transferred to the Philippine Islands, landing in Manila, then on to the naval base at Subic Bay, Philippines. While in the Navy, he was a diesel mechanic, then became a storekeeper and saw twenty months of foreign and sea duty. Norman was discharged in December 1955 as a Storekeeper Seaman. After his discharge, he went inactive United States Naval Reserve for four years. He received the National Defense Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the Korean Defense Medal. He was a long-time member of the American Legion and enjoyed participating in community events and helping fry crappie and hushpuppies to perfection for annual meals. He was a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge and a 50-year member of the Kansas City Ararat Shrine. He went on the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. in 2015.

Norman worked at the Wabash Railroad, drove a cookie route, and was the owner of dry cleaner. He spent the majority of his career as a registered representative for Metropolitan Life Insurance and then becoming an Independent Agent selling all lines of insurance.

Norman placed his faith in Jesus Christ as a younger boy and recommitted himself to that decision upon the adoption of his daughter, Julie. He demonstrated the love of his Savior through his gentle, consistent, actions—he was a man of “fewer words, more do.” He was an active and committed member of Brunswick Baptist Church and in later years, Carpenter Street Baptist. He served as a deacon in both. He was also a long-time member of the Gideons and relished distributing Bibles as a member of that organization.

Norman is preceded in death by his parents, brother, and his beloved wife.

He is survived by his daughter, Julie Barnhill and husband Rick of Galesburg, IL; grandchildren, Kristen Draughan and husband Andy of Macomb, IL, and great-grandchildren Cecilia and Caleb; Ricky Neal Barnhill and wife Brittani and great-grandsons, Ricky Neal III, Rowan, and Remington, of Troy, MO; Patrick Barnhill and wife Maddie, and grandchildren Elsie Jo and Hendrix, of Viola, IL; his Aunt Pauline Esry of Moberly, MO; niece, Debra Sellars and husband Gary of Keytesville, MO; and nephew Mark Duncan and wife Carrie of Granite City, and extended family and many close friends.

Memorials in Norman’s honor may be made to Gideons. Services celebrating Norman’s life will be held on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at Pathway Funeral Chapel, Moberly, MO: Visitation at 10:00 a.m. with funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Interment services and military honors will take place at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Jacksonville, MO.

Local arrangements are under the direction of Pathway-Millard Family Funeral Chapel, 411 Union Avenue, Moberly, MO 65270 (660)263-7284. Condolences may be left online for the family at www.pathwaymemorial.com.