Norman F. "Butch" Kerns Sr.

Norman F. "Butch" Kerns Sr., 74, of Cross Junction, Virginia passed away unexpectedly on Monday, October 13, 2025. He spent his last days surrounded by family, laughter, and an abundance of love. Butch was born on June 30, 1951 in Front Royal, Virginia, son of the late John William Kerns Sr. and Maude Lee Minnix Kerns.

He is survived by his son, Chris Kerns and wife Nikki of Cross Junction; three daughters, Melissa Dinges and husband Mike of New Market, Missi Merritt and fiancé Jeremiah of Augusta, WV, and Heather Kerns Tyler and husband Drew of Lillington, NC; his grandchildren, Justin, Bianca, Destiny, Nathen, Samuel, Jayden, Jacoby, Tanner, Branyan, Houlden, Camoryn, Aryanni, Raegan James, and Olivia Lane and great grandchildren, Jaylin, LuEmma, Isla, and Wren. He also leaves behind a brother, George Kerns Sr. and wife Robin of Luray.

Butch was preceded in death by his parents; son, Norman "Butchie" Kerns Jr.; grandson, Norman "Little Butchie" Kerns III; and seven siblings.

The saying goes, "Jack of all trades, master of none" but Butch was a Jack of all trades and a master of most. He was a mechanic who grew up working in his dads garage, and a roofer who could drive a nail in two swings. He was a carpenter with a calculator in his head, and an electrician who only shocked himself a time or two.

Butch was an avid hunter who loved to spend all day sighting in his (and everyone else's) rifles for deer season and a horseman that could (and would) get on any horse and instantly make it more sane. If you had asked him, he was a comedian too - his jokes just took longer than most.

More importantly, he was a dad, a granddad, a brother, and a friend. He was someone you could rely on if you had known him for ten minutes or ten years. He was always ready to go fishing, take a drive to look at deer, or grab a wrench to help you fix something. Butch was a dad that would answer day or night. He gave to his children endlessly, was a keeper of secrets, a shoulder to cry on, the voice of reason when all logic had been lost. He was also a granddad who had immense pride in his grandchildren.

Immediate family gathered in private on October 15, 2025 at Maddox Funeral Home for final farewells. There are no additional services planned, as Butch wanted those who loved him to remember him as he was in the best of times - of which there were many.

Butch would want to be remembered as the fun-loving man with the horse named Monkey, who could dance the night away and then head to the hay field or to help a friend bright and early the next morning. He would want to be remembered as a man that never met a stranger, the friend who showed up with no questions asked, a dad who loved his children and grandchildren unconditionally, and someone who accepted everyone he knew for exactly who they were. His hands were rough, but his eyes were kind, you found warmth and comfort in his smile, and his heart was big.